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THE 

Dreamer's Teacher 



AND 



ONEIROCRITICA. 



Consisting Chiefly of 
Definitions of Dream and 
Vision Symbols, and the Demon- 
stration of their Truthfulness by their 
Application to Narratives of Dream and 
Vision Experiences in all Ages of the World, 
as well as of Modern Times. — The Only 
Work in Existence that can be Prac- 
tically Applied to the Interpreta- 
tion of Dreams and Visions, 
either Ancient or Modern. 



BY 



JAMES MONROE. 
1887. 




J. W. FRANKS * SONS, PRINTERS AND BINDERS, 
PEORIA ILLINOIS. 









^° 



Copyrighted. 
BY JAMES MONROE, 

1887. 



PEEFACE. 

Education consists of the acquisition of a know- 
ledge of that which others had previously known, and 
the tendency of the human mind is to become biased 
in favor of its early and long continued training; 
therefore originality of thought is most frequently 
found among those whose minds have not been trained 
in the routine of previous knowledge during a long pe- 
riod of time. And, furthermore, the absence of a 
thorough education does not unfit one for observing, 
comparing and reflecting upon the various manifesta- 
tions of nature; therefore, with a firm conviction that 
I have discovered some important truths which the 
world should be informed of, I venture to offer them 
to the public, although not more than one of my sixty- 
four years has been spent in a school-room, and but a 
small portion of my time has been spent in literary 
work; the balance of my time having been spent in 
hard labor, business, and the common cares of rearing 
and providing for a family. 

My literary work has been wholly limited to my 
past and present efforts in developing and propagat- 
ing the truths connected with the subject of Dreams 
and Visions. 

I have lost some money in my previous efforts to 
publish these truths, but I do not regret these efforts, 
and shall be pleased, although I suffer still further 
loss, provided these truths shall be advanced thereby. 

1 THE AUTHOR. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

Dreaming (Poetry) 1 

Miscellaneous Remarks and Opinions relating to 
the subject of Dreams, Dreaming and Dream 

Interpretation 2 , 

God's Perpetual Inspiration 28 ' 

Dreams Classified 30 7 

Rules Governing the Interpretation of Dreams. . . 32 

Dream and Vision Symbols Defined 37 

Definitions by Correspondents 198 

Difficulty in Dream Interpretation 200 

The Importance of Foreknowledge 202 

The Mind in Sleep 206 \ 

A Revelation that was not a Dream 210 

Miscellaneous Dream Experiences— The Editor's 

Dream 216 

Dream Experience of Mr. D., of R. 1 216 

President Lincoln's Dream 217 

The Dream of Mr. G., of Oregon 220 

Dr. J. Ch. Moore and his Dream 223 

Dream of Mr. E., of Mo 225 

Dream Warning of Death by Mrs. Riley 228 

Illness Foreshadowed 233 

Home Experience 233 

Mrs. Griffith's Dreams 235 

Grandma's Rhymes about Six Little Graves 236 

A Dream of Wealth 238 

Duncan Campbell at Ticonderoga 240 

Dream Experience of Mr. M., of Illinois 243 

Dr. Mary Steward's Dream Warning 246 



Viii Table of Contents. 

Dream of Mr. P., of Illinois 248 

Coming Events Cast their Shadows Before 250- 

Dream Experience of Mrs. J. G 251 

Dream Experienc of Mr. P., of Mass 253 

The Grinnell Tornado Foreshadowed 259 

Death Appears in Material Form 261 

Dream Experience of an Actress 265 

Protestantism Foreshadowed to the Elector 269 

Remarks of Maj. E. S 275 

Dream Experience of Mr. J. B. S 276 

A Child's Death Foretold 278 

A Dream and its Interpretation 279 

The Dream of Mr. W„ of Illinois 280 

The War of the Rebellion Foreshadowed 281 

Symbols of the Siege of Vicksburg 286 

The End of our Civil War Foreshadowed 293 

President Lincoln's Last Dream 296 

Remarks of Mr. P., of Maine 297 

The Assassination of Garfield Foreshadowed 299 

Dream of R. D. Goodwin, M. D 300 

The Presidential Election— Cleveland Ahead 307 

Still Pointing Toward Grover Cleveland 309 

The Political Dreams of C. A. Dilg 311 

The Political Dreams of Various Persons 315 

Dream of Mr. G., of Tennessee 318 

Dream Experience of Mr. T. N. B., of New York. 323 

Dream of Mr. M., of Minnesota 326 

Cleveland and Blaine, by Maj. E. S 330 

Gen. Grant's Dream 335 

Eternal Justice, by Charles Mackay. (Poetry) 338 



THE 



DREAMER'S TEACHER 

AND 

ONEIROCRITICA. 



DREAMING. 



When slumber seals our weary eyes, 

The busy fancy wakeful keeps; 
The scenes which then before us rise 

Proves something in us never sleeps. 

As in another world we seem, 

A new creation of our own ; 
All appears real, though a dream, 

And all familiar, though unknown. 

Sometimes the mind beholds again, 
The past day's business in review ; 

Resumes the pleasure or the pain, 
And sometimes all we meet is new. 

What schemes we form! what pains we take! 

We right, we run, we fly, we fall; 
But all is ended when we wake, 

We scarcely then a trace recall. 

But though our dreams are often wild, 
Like clouds before the drifting storm ; 

Yet some, important may be styled, 
Sent to admonish or inform. 



Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritiea. 

What might}' agents have access, 

What friends from heaven, or foes from hell, 
Our minds to comfort or distress, 

When we are sleeping, who can tell ? ' 

One thing at least, and 'tis enough, 
We learn from this surprising fact: 

Our dreams afford sufficient proof, 
The soul without the flesh can act. 

This life, which mortals so esteem, 
That many choose it for their all, 

They will confess 'twas but a dream, 
When wakened by death's awful call. 

— Olney Hymns. 



MISCELLANEOUS REMARKS AND OPINIONS 
RELATING TO THE SUBJECT OF DREAMS, 
DREAMING AND DREAM INTERPRE- 
TATION. 

There are comparatively few persons who 
do not occasionally awaken from sleep with men- 
tal impressions, or recollections, of sights, sounds, 
words, thoughts, or experiences, which were im- 
pressed upon their minds daring their said sleep. 
Such sights, sounds, words, thoughts or experi- 
ences are called Dreams. Men dream, women 
dream ; even very young infants exhibit evidence 
of dreaming by the dimpling smiles upon their 



Dreams and Dreaming. 3 

cheeks while sleeping ; and at other times the 
evidence is equally conclusive, when they awaken 
in great fright. 

Dogs yelp and move their limbs while sleep- 
ing, thus giving evidence that they, too, dream. 

In accordance with the foregoing facts, we 
must conclude that dreaming is governed by a 
general law of mind, which is common to the 
human race, and extending to many of the lower 
species of animals. 

Dreams have attracted attention among man- 
kind during all the historical ages, but much 
more in ancient than in modern times. During 
the ancient ages, all classes of people believed 
that dreams were prophetic. The evidence of 
such belief is incidentally interspersed through 
the history of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, Assyri- 
ans, Babylonians, Israelites, Jews, Romans, and 
others. And although the subject is receiving 
less attention at the present day among the peo- 
ple of some nations, yet we learn that Parsees, 
Mussulmen, and large numbers interspersed 
among all the nations of the earth now entertain 
a belief in the prophetic nature of a certain class 
of dreams. And most assuredly, a matter so 
simple as the observation of the fulfillment of 
dreams could not have maintained its claim to 
prophetic truthfulness through all those ages, 



4 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

and until the present day, and among distin- 
guished men, as well as the masses, without a 
substantial basis of truth to sustain it. 

Lactantius, Josephus, Bishop Cowper, Dr. 
Fred. Hoffman, and others, believed dreams to 
be prophetic and God-inspired. Jews, and such 
Christians as Cyprian, Augustine, St. Bernard, 
Peter Martyr, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and 
a host of others, believed dreams to be prophetic, 
and both God-inspired and Devil-inspired, and 
most inconsistently claimed the God -inspired 
ones to be limited to the age of biblical writers. 

Bishop Bull, Bishop Ken, and others, be- 
lieved dreams to be prophetic, and inspired by 
guardian angels. 

Greeks, Romans, and the ancients generally, 
were much influenced in their conduct by dreams, 
and believed them to be prophetic, and inspired 
by good and evil demons. 

Terfcullian and others believed dreams to be 
prophetic, and inspired by God, Devil, and ex- 
altation of the human mind. 

Philo Judeus and others believed dreams to 
be prophetic, and God-inspired and self-inspired 
(ignoring the devil). 

Professor Joseph Haven, believed dreams to 
be prophetic, and sometimes supernaturally in- 
spired, but not necessarily so; but that the im- 



Opinions of Distinguished Authors. 5 

pressions of matters and things future may be- 
long to some law governing the brain and nerv- 
ous system. Others express substantially the 
same idea, by claiming a certain state of exalta- 
tion of the mind, in which it manifests powers 
superior to those known in its ordinary state, 
and that it is then enabled to see something of 
the future. The same opinion was also substan- 
tially held by Xenophon, Richard Baxter, Bishop 
Butler, Bishop Newton, Rev. Thomas Brough- 
ton, John Newton, Sir Thomas Browne, Leonard 
Euler, Dr. Priestley, and others. 

Richard Baxter never awoke but from out 
a dream. He believed the soul was ever active, 
but that a remembrance of its action was not al- 
ways carried into the walking state. Dr. Watts 
entertained a similar belief. 

Poseidonius, the stoic, believed that the 
mind, from its likeness to the Deity, looked into 
futurity while the body reposed in sleep. He 
also believed the mind to be affected by count- 
less immortal spirits which abound in the air, 
and which are stamped with certain signs of 
truth ; and also that the gods themselves com- 
mune with mortals. 

Strabo supposed the human understanding 
to be more sensitive in dreams than at other 
times. 



6 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

Cyrus, the elder, claimed that sleep resem- 
bled death : that the soul could foresee and fore- 
know whilst the body slept. 

Plutarch, Galen, Hippocrates, Dion, Cassiu?, 
Joseph us, and others, attached much importance 
to dreams, and were guided by them in their 
conduct- 
Aristotle believed that dreams might be su- 
pernaturally commissioned. He also believed 
that the mind possessed superior powers during 
sleep. 

Plato believed dreams to be emanations of 
the Divinity. 

Chaucer believed dreams to be divinely in- 
spired. 

Catherine de Medicis and her daughter re- 
ceived revelations through dreams. 

Many artists, mathematicians, and others, 
have performed their greatest intellectual feats 
during sleep. 

The foregoing names, selected from a nu- 
merous class who entertained similar opinions, 
are names of persons of various ages of the world 
from ancient times down to the present time. 
They were among the shining lights of the cen- 
turies in which they lived, and many of them had 
devoted much attention to the investigation of 
the subject of dreams, previous to the expression 



Errors of Distinguished Authors. 7 

of those opinions. It is not a sufficient offset to 
those opinions to state that others have expressed 
contrary opinions, unless such other persons are 
shown to be equally intelligent, and had devoted 
equally as much time to the investigation of the 
subject. But such cannot be shown, for it is no- 
torious that the opponents of the prophetic claim 
for dreams generally ignore all investigation of 
the subject. Yet some very distinguished writ- 
ers, whose themes have reference to mental phi- 
losophy, have found it indispensible to advance 
theories for the explanation of the phenomena of 
dreaming; but in so doing, they, as well as the 
most thoughtless writers, have ignored the facts 
of individual experiences, which should be ac- 
cepted as the supreme rule in all cases, and which 
must overthrow all theories which cannot be 
reconciled to them. 

The foregoing remarks in reference to theo- 
ries are called out by the following opinions : 

THE PHRENOLOGICAL THEORY. 

:Dr. J. C. Spurzheim. 

" Watching is called the state wherein the 
will can put in action the organs of the intellec- 
tual faculties, of the five senses, and voluntary 
motion ; but it is impossible to define watching 
as the state wherein all these organs are active, 



8 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

for it cannot happen that all the faculties are ac- 
tive at the same time ; all organs, being fatigued, 
take rest, and this state of rest is sleep ; but any 
particular organ, or even several organs, may be 
active while the other organs rest, and the pecu- 
liar sensations or ideas which result from this 
particular activity constitutes that which is called 
dreams, which are more or less complicated ac- 
cording to the number of the active organs." — 
Outlines of the Physiognomical System of Drs. 
Gall and Sparzheim. 

Andrew Carmichael, M. R. I. A. 

" In the gradual progress from intense sleep, 
when there can be no dream, to the moment of 
perfect vigilance, see what occurs. The first ce- 
rebral organ that awakes enters on the train of 
thinking connected with its faculty, some kind 
of dream is the result; as organ after organ 
awakes the dream becomes more vivid, and as 
the number of active organs increase, so do 
the complications of the dream; and if all the 
internal organs are awake, the man is still asleep 
until his waking senses bring him into direct 
communication with the world. — A memoir of the 
Life and Philosophy of Spurzheim. 

Edward Binns, M.D. 

" Reminiscent dreams are explicable on the 
principles of phrenology as taught by the disci- 



Errors of Distinguished Authors. 9 

pies of Gall ; and did all dreams admit even of 
this qualified explanation, there would be no dif- 
ficulty in adopting the phrenological theory in 
whole, as I have done partially in the text. But 
phrenology only explains those which can be 
traced to some past action or motion of the brain, 
or, in a word, reduces the causes of dreams to 
recollection of events or memory, and leaves all 
others unexplained." — Anatomy of Sleep : Ap- 
pendix. 

Robert Macntsh, M.D. 

" Following the bent of their waking idio- 
syncracies persons who have strong passions for 
music often dream of singing and composing 
melodies; and the ideas of some of our finest 
pieces are said to have been communicated to the 
musician in his sleep. A mathematician, in like 
manner, is often engaged in the solution of prob- 
lems, and has his brain full of Newton, Euler, 
Euclid and Laplace ; while a poet is occupied in 
writing verses, and deliberating upon the strains 
of such bards as are most familiar to his spirit. 
To speak phrenologically, if the faculty of Size 
is large, then material images, more than sounds 
or abstractions, possess the soul, and everything 
is magnified to unnatural dimensions; if Color 
be fully developed, whatever is presented to the 
mental eye is brilliant and gaudy, and the person 



10 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

has probably the idea of rich paintings, shining 
flowers, or varied landscapes ; should Locality 
predominate, he is carried away to distant lands, 
and beholds more extraordinary sights than Cook, 
Parry, or Franklin ever described. An excess 
of Cautiousness will inspire him with terror; an 
excess of Self-esteem causes him to be placed in 
dignified situations ; while Imitation may render 
him a mimic or player ; Language, a wrangler 
or philologist; Secretiveness, a deceiver ; Acquis- 
itiveness, a thief. In a word, whatever propen- 
sity, faculties, or passions are strongest in the 
mind, will, in most cases, manifest themselves 
more vigorously than others in dreams ; .and 
where a faculty is very w 7 eak it will scarcely 
manifest itself at all. Thus, one person who has 
large Tune and small Causality, will indulge in 
music, but never in ascertaining the nature of 
cause and effect ; while another, with a contrary 
disposition of organs, may attempt to reason up- 
on abstract truths in dreams, while music will 
never once intrude in the temple of his thoughts. 
It is but fair to state, however, that the compo- 
sitions, the reasonings, and the poems which we 
concoct at this time are generally of a very ab- 
surd description ; and how admirable so ever 
they may have appeared, their futility is abund- 
antly evident when we awake." — Philosophy of 
Sleep. 



Errors of Distinguished Authors. 1 1 

It is true, as the Doctor has stated, that 
u whateyer propensities, faculties, or passions are 
strongest in the mind will, in most cases, mani- 
fest themselves more vigorously than the others 
in dreams." But in quite a different manner 
from that which the Doctor has pointed out. 
Locality does not cause one to dream of distant 
lands, nor does Self-esteem cause one to dream 
of being in dignified situations, unless there is 
an exciting cause for it. The exciting cause may 
consist of some future event, which may be best 
symbolically illustrated through the most vigor- 
ous faculties, or those which have been most 
exercised. Hence our Rule 5th. And in pur- 
suance of that rule, King Nebuchadnezzar's 
dreams foreshadowed the future of governments, 
and St. John's that of churches, and Joseph's 
(son of Jacob) that of his own personal affairs,, 
etc. We may also repeat, for illustration, that 
auy revelation to a school-teacher is generally 
illustrated by the scenes and associations of the 
school-room, and to a sailor by scenes upon the 
sea or about the ship, etc. ; the most familiar 
associations as well as the predominating facul- 
ties giving form to the revelation. 

But the Doctor contradicts himself when he 
states that some of the finest pieces of music 
have been composed in sleep, and again that the 



12 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocintica. 

futility of composition, reason, and poems is 
apparent when we awake. It appears that many 
of his statements are theories which have never 
been tested by experience. 

The composition of music and the solution 
of mathematical problems, and many other things 
done in sleep, proves the sleeping mind to be su- 
perior to the waking mind ; therefore the phre- 
nological theory of a part of the faculties sleep- 
ing while the others are awake and active, as 
accounting for dreams, cannot be true, because a 
part cannot be greater than the whole. 

Dr. Macnish appears to have been of that 
olass who deny with their tongues and pens, and 
at the same time confess the truth with their 
fears, as is apparent from the following bit of his 
own personal experience, as related by himself: 

U I was then (August, 1821) in Caithness, 
when I dreamed that a near relative of my own, 
residing three hundred miles off', had suddenly 
died, and immediately thereafter awoke in a state 
of inconceivable terror, similar to that produced 
by a paroxysm of nightmare. The same day, 
happening to be writing home, I mentioned the 
circumstance in a half-jesting, half-earnest way. 
To tell the truth, I was afraid to be serious, lest 
I should be laughed at for putting any faith in 
dreams. However, in the interval between writ- 



Errors of Distinguished Authors. 13 

ing and receiving an answer I remained in a 
state of most unpleasant suspense. I felt a pre- 
sentiment that something dreadful had happened 
or would happen; and though I could not help 
blaming myself for a childish weakness in so 
feeling, I was unable to get rid of the painful 
idea which had taken such rooted possession of 
my mind. Three days after sending away my 
letter, what was my astonishment when I received 
one written the day subsequent to mine, stating 
that the relative of whom I had dreamed had 
been struck with a fatal shock of palsy the day 
before, that is, the very day on the morning of 
which I had beheld the appearance in my dream. 
I may state that my relative was in perfect health 
before the fatal event took place. It came upon 
him like a thunderbolt, at a period when no one 
could have the slightest anticipation of danger. "" 

The foregoing experience of Dr. Maenish 
occurred when he was a young man, and yet he 
afterwards wrote and published works substan- 
tially denying the facts plainly demonstrated by 
that experience. 

After speaking of the hypothesis that dreams 
may at times give us an insight into futurity, he 
says : " This opinion is so singularly unphilo- 
sophical that I would not have noticed it were it 
not advocated by persons of good sense and edu- 
cation." 



14 Di*eamer'$ Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

Here is a man who has assumed the office of 
teacher upon a certain subject. He starts out by 
limiting Nature's possibilities by his own very 
limited comprehension. He ignores the infalli- 
ble voice of Nature, which has spoken plainly to 
himself and others, and strikes out upon theories 
which are adapted to his understanding, although 
Ihey are flatly contradicted by the manifested 
facts. He would not even have noticed the 
opinions which are supported by the facts of his 
own experience and that of a large portion of the 
world, were it not for the fact that men of sense 
and education had previously noticed it. Sueh 
authors and pseudo scientists often retard the 
true progress of science, and attain to more pop- 
ularity than they deserve. 

But the prejudice of many people of the 
present age is such, that reasonable rules of evi- 
dence are being constantly reversed on certain 
subjects. Even the human senses, on these sub- 
jects are declared to be unreliable, while reliable 
on all others. If the senses are not reliable, we 
had better cease to investigate any subject — we 
have no basis to build upon. We might as well 
attempt to build a material structure in the midst 
of space. Furthermore, age and experience, 
which have entitled their possessors to superior 
judgment and preference in weight of evidence, 



Popular Inconsistencies. 15 

are now sneered at by persons younger in years, 
and consequently of more limited experience and 
observation. Subjects which have maintained 
their hold upon the human mind during thous- 
ands of years, and have attracted the attention of 
the wisest in all ages, and of kings and emperors 
who were competent to administer the affairs of 
great ^nations and vast empires, are now de- 
nounced as foolish and silly superstitions, by in- 
dividuals whose mental capacity is scarcely suffi- 
cient to enable them to provide themselves with 
the necessaries of life in a plentiful country. 
Truly, we have fallen upon times of strange in- 
consistencies. 

In addition to the materialistic tendency of 
our age, and the pseudo-scientific assumptions of 
non-observing writers, there has long existed a 
class of crafty men who have usurped control of 
the subject of religion and all matters relating 
to it. Consequently revelations, whether by 
dreams or otherwise, have been suppressed, to- 
gether with all manifestations of spiritual power, 
except such as came through the regular channels 
of the clergy or priesthood, and contributed to 
the strength and support of the same. And at 
the present day, all revelations, whether made 
by dreams or otherwise, are being ground be- 
tween the upper and nether millstones of ortho- 



16 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

doxy and materialism, until the mass of mankind 
have long since ceased to publicly state their real 
convictions — convictions which their personal 
experiences have forced upon them; — they pub- 
licly acquiesce in the popular ridicule and sneer 
of those who, for various reasons, control public 
sentiment upon this subject. 

But yet a large proportion of the people, 
when privately questioned upon this subject, re- 
late most remarkable experiences which have oc- 
curred to themselves or to their most intimate 
friends, thus furnishing the most positive evi- 
dence of the truth of revelation through dreams. 

Then who are they who flippantly dispose 
of this most momentous subject? One class of 
them consists of Jews and Christians who incon- 
sistently teach that ancient dreams and visions 
possessed a prophetic truthfulness, but that none 
of modern times do. Another class consists of 
thoughtless persons whose only desire is to drift 
on the tide of popularity. And still there is an- 
other class, which consists of a few pseudo-scien- 
tists, who, without investigation, publish conflict- 
ing theories in regard to the producing cause 
of dreams — the chief one being the gorged 
stomach theory. But their theories are all based 
on a soulless, materialistic belief, and have refer- 
ence only to a certain class of dreams, which no 



Popular Inconsistencies. 17 

one should deny as being the result of a deranged 
state of the physical system : but a careful ob- 
server would never confound such dreams with 
the class that are prophetic. 

Theories propounded for the solution of the 
phenomena of dreams, as well as for all other 
subjects, should be tested by one rule, which is 
infallible in cases in which the phenomena occur 
very frequently, and in various forms, as is the 
case with dreaming ; and that rule requires har- 
mony and consistency between the theory and 
manifested facts — not a part of the facts, but of 
ever one of them. One well-authenticated fact 
is sufficient to overthrow all the theories which 
cannot be reconciled to it. But we have in this 
case, not merely the one fact in support of the 
prophetic claim for dreams, and against its op- 
posing theories, but we have them by thousands, 
and of daily occurrence throughout the world at 
the present day, and narratives of similar ones 
incidentally interspersed through the history of 
forty centuries. The evidence appears in the 
form of well-authenticated prophetic dreams, and 
none of the materialistic theories referred to can 
be reconciled to one fact of that kind. 

Before comprehending the process of dream- 
ing we must form a correct idea of what the mind 
consists of; and the best means of obtaining that 

2 



18 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

result is through the phenomena developed on 
the border land where the material and spiritual 
worlds meet and blend the elements of the two 
together — in the world where dreams and vis- 
ions are made, and where gleams from the im- 
mortal shore demonstrate the " surprising fact " 
that " the soul without the flesh can act." 

The phenomena demonstrate that the mind 
is dual in its manifestations, but one in its indi- 
viduality. For distinction, we will designate 
one phase of its manifestation as the natural mind, 
and the other as the spiritual mind. The natural 
mind cannot comprehend the things of the spirit, 
for it is only adapted to material things, and 
therefore knows nothing of its copartner, the 
spiritual mind, except through inferences found- 
ed upon the before-mentioned phenomena. Or, 
it may be true, that the human, mind consists 
of an individualized portion of the Divinity, and 
it deals with material things through a material 
instrument styled "the brain." Consequently 
the natural mind is not the real mind. It may 
be likened to music, while its spiritual counter- 
part is the musician and the brain the instru- 
ment. When the instrument is destroyed the 
music must cease, but the musician continues to 
live on. Therefore, death only ends our deal- 
ings with material things, while our intelligent 
individuality continues to live on. 



Man's Immortality. 19 

The phenomena also demonstrate the fact 
that the spiritual counterpart possesses powers 
vastly superior to the natural mind, and when 
the latter is passive, as in sleep, the spiritual in- 
telligence being conscious of future events, pic- 
tures them upon the materials of the passive 
brain, and then arouses the sleeper with a sudden 
shock, thus leaving a vivid representation of the 
event upon the memory of the natural mind. 
This is what constitutes a prophetic dream, and 
it is generally given in the symbolic language 
peculiar to spiritual intelligences when commu- 
nicating through the material senses. 

The human family possess various degrees 
of impressibility or susceptibility to spiritual 
influences; some are conscious of intelligent 
spirital communications while in their waking 
state, while others are never conscious of such 
influences either while awake or asleep. The 
latter are of that class who never remember of 
having dreamed, while some others never awake 
from sleep without the remembrance of a fresh 
dream. 

But the condition of the same person at va- 
rious times has much to do with the remembrance 
of dreams, for Aristotle, and after him, Pliny, 
observed that more dreams were remembered in 
cool or cold weather than in hot weather. And 



20 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritica. 

by reference to a record of my own personal ex- 
periences recorded during many years, I find an 
average of more than twice as many dreams re- 
corded during the cool or cold seasons of the 
year than during the warm or hot seasons. 

The mention of more dreams in the history 
of one age of the world than another, or by one 
nation of people more than another, does not 
prove a difference in the number received, but 
only proves that dreams received more attention 
among some nations than among others in vari- 
ous ages of the world, for enough is found inci- 
dentally interspersed through all history to prove 
that the laws governing dreaming is common to 
all peoples in all ages of the world. 

From information gathered from general 
intercourse with the world, I am led to believe 
that my own experience in dreaming represents 
the average in the number of dreams among the 
masses of people generally. I have kept a rec- 
ord of my dreams during many years past, and 
find by reference to that record that the average 
of my experiences amount to about two hundred 
dreams per year. This number is all that were 
remembered, including long and short ones. 
They were received quite irregularly ; sometimes 
two or three in one night, with a waking interval 
after each one of them, and at other times I have 



Our Personal Experience, 21 

passed many nights without any dreams. Fa- 
tigue, anxiety, or, as before stated, hot weather, 
appears to be among the chief causes which pre- 
vent a remembrance of dreams. 

The length of my dreams, as recorded, varies 
from one line to two pages of foolscap — the 
average being about a dozen lines to one dream. 
Some were as vivid as reality, while others were 
only partially recalled by considerable mental 
effort. I have no doubt but a large portion of 
them were symbolic foreshadow T ings of events re- 
lating to my various business enterprises, but 
the signification of the greatest number of them 
was never discovered, and the meaning of some 
others was discovered too late to profit by the 
foreknowledge which they brought. The signi- 
fication of some others seemed plain enough, but 
they were disregarded, and loss suffered in con- 
sequence of so doing, and yet I can recall a very 
small number which were understood and heeded 
and their benefits realized. 

I am well aware that in the eyes of those 
who judge of all benefits according to their pe- 
cuniary aspects, the work of my spare hours dur- 
ing many years will appear trifling; but lam 
very certain that I have found evidence in the 
inspiration of some dreams that the soul without 
the flesh can act, and that it does so act, both 



22 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritica. 

while it is yet bound to the flesh and also after it 
has shuffled off* the mortal coil. And the dem- 
onstration of such facts is no trifle, but well 
worth the patient effort of years, for it has estab- 
lished knowledge where even faith was dying out. 

I know that all dreams do not originate in 
the natural mind, because some are prophetic, 
and the natural mind has no prophetic faculty. 
And in case of an incidental event, such as the 
accidental discharge of firearms by which a life 
is lost, the event is often foreshadowed in a dream 
before it has an existence elsewhere, so far as 
the natural mind can know, for there appears to 
be no natural causes in operation to bring about 
such an event, for in such case all depends either 
upon the impulse of the mind, or thoughtless 
motion of the hand, at the moment of its occur- 
rence. And furthermore, I know that my unex- 
pressed thoughts upon certain subjects have been 
answered through the dreams of other persons, 
who knew nothing either of my thoughts or the 
subject of those thoughts, they not having even 
heard of the subject. Consequently we must 
infer that such knowledge comes from a super- 
mundane source. 

The greatest obstacle in the establishment of 
a universal conviction of the fact of prophetic 
dreams, is the symbolic language in which the 






Our Personal Experience. 23 

greater number of them are received. This lan- 
guage has been such as to leave its truthfulness 
barely perceptible ; but enough appears to have 
been observed and understood during all historic 
ages to convince, either whole nations of people 
or large numbers of them, that in those myste- 
rious symbols there existed a universal language, 
which only required an interpretation to become 
intelligable to all, and by which all persons might 
learn something of the events of the future. 
Consequently dream interpreters have arisen and 
flourished in various ages of the world. Their 
work appears incidentally interspersed through 
the oldest history of our race. We have illus- 
trations of it extending through all the ages of 
biblical writers. We may also trace it in the 
history of the Assyrians, Chaldeans, Medes, Per- 
sians, Greeks and Romans, down to the Dark 
Ages. In fact, the practice of dream interpreta- 
tion has maintained its standing, at least in all 
the historic ages, because dreams have been re- 
ceived during all that time, and because the 
common sense of man enabled him to perceive 
the evidence of their truth by only a casual ob- 
servation, and by that means excited his curios- 
ity to learn more of it. 

Among the most distinguished interpreters 
of which history informs us, we may name Joseph, 



24 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

of Egypt; Daniel, of the Hebrew captives in 
Babylon ; Achmet, author of Oneirocritica ; 
Astrampsychus, author of Oneirocriticon ; and 
Artemidorus, author of another Oneirocritica. 
Among the works here named or unnamed, that 
of Artemidorus appears to have gained the great- 
est celebrity. He flourished in the second cen- 
tury of our era, and established a system of cor- 
respondence to collect facts relating to the subject. 
He wrote the result of his investigations and 
conclusions in a work of five volumes. It has 
been translated into several languages ; but the 
age in which he wrote, and for many centuries 
later, the masses were unlearned, the printing 
press unknown, and consequently his work could 
not be fully appreciated ; and in the middle ages, 
and also in more modern times, the disposition 
and power of the church has been such as to 
silence, by persecution and disapproval, all mat- 
ters relating to spiritual phenomena which did 
not come through the regular channels of the 
priesthood, and contribute to the support of the 
same. Consequently all valuable ancient litera- 
ture and discoveries relating to dreams and their 
interpretation has disappeared from the world, 
and nothing but the worthless and flashy stuff 
remains ; therefore these pages are almost wholly 
original — the definitions of dream language here 



Dream Interpreters, 25 

given having been chiefly evolved from the lim- 
ited experiences and observations of the author, 
a ad the experiences of others which have come 
casually to his notice, therefore, like most new 
discoveries, they are imperfect, and must con- 
tinue to be so until further practical application 
shall furnish the means to eliminate their errors. 
No modern writers, either upon the philosophy 
of dreams or the interpretation of them, have 
heretofore given practical illustrations of their 
theories or conclusions, by applying them to the 
narratives of personal experiences, and the reason 
they have not done so ; is because no theory here- 
tofore advanced would stand, the test of such 
application. 

We perceive that this is an age of critical 
investigation; an age in which mankind require 
palpable proof for the basis of their opinions. 
Religion, therefore, is in danger of being ban- 
ished from the world as an unfounded supersti- 
tion, unless the Dhenomanal manifestations of the 
mind shall be formulated, and mental philosophy 
so far developed, that we may demonstrate intel- 
ligence as existing independent of brain matter, 
and that consequently the continuation of life 
after the death of the body is possible. Not, 
" If a man die shall he live again, " but does 
mankind continue to live after the death of the 



26 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

body ? In order to accomplish this object we 
must explore the boundary where the material 
and spiritual worlds are supposed to approach 
each other. 

In the manifestations of intelligence in some 
forms of disease, trance, apparent death, instinct, 
and dreaming, we will find the rugged bounda- 
ries of the two worlds overlapping each other, 
and occasional evidence of the spiritual world 
visible to our material eyes and perceptible to 
our material senses. Dreaming, on account of 
its frequency, is the most prolific source of evi- 
dence concerning the spiritual world, and life 
and intelligence independent of the material 
organs. 

Our personal experience has, perhaps, not 
been unlike that of many others ; probably, how- 
ever, our peculiar cranial developments have 
impelled us to give unusual attention to the sub- 
ject. It was after a long experience in observ- 
ing our dreams, and comparing them with sub- 
sequent events, that we discovered evidence of 
a symbolic foreshadowing of those events ; and 
it was while testing the truth of such observa- 
tions, and comparing those symbols with the 
dream narratives of other persons, both ancient 
and modern, as found incidentally interspersed 
through the literature of the world, that we dis- 



Dream Language. 27 

covered evidence of a symbolic language. This 
language, so far as our facilities for investigation 
have extended, appears to be common to the 
dreams and visions of mankind throughout the 
ages. We arrived at this conclusion nearly 
forty years ago, and all subsequent investigations 
have but strengthened us in it. 

In the year 1877 we applied our discoveries 
in this language to the dreams and visions of 
Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel, and St. John, as found 
in Scripture, and we published the result in a 
book entitled " The Interpretator and Transla- 
tor, etc." We claim that that book, in connec- 
tion with the world's history, presents a complete 
demonstration of the truth of Revelation, and of 
the several biblical dreams and visions therein 
described. 



28 Dreamer's Teacher and OneiroctHtiea. 
GOD'S PERPETUAL INSPIRATION. 

BY JAMES RICHARDSON, JR. 



Not in ancient mouldy writings, 
Of Chaldee or Hebrew bard, 

Which the dim and distant ages, 
As a sacred mystery guard; 

Not to tribes of wandering Hebrews, 
With Jehovah's bloody code. 

Nor to Israelitish prophets, 
Who their race to battle goad,— 

Vaunted by their bigot followers 
Special favorites of Heaven! 

Not through such has the good Father 
Holiest revelations given. 

Nor alone to wond'rous seers 
Of the dark and barbarous Past, 

Earth's divine Messiahs! stirring 
Souls as with a trumpet blast, 

Who, through mists of ages looming, 
Giants superhuman seem;— 

Not to these, alone, the vision 
Heavenly, and the prophet's dream. 

4 By the Almighty's inspiration, 
Still is understanding given;" 

To each age its revelation; 
To each time its word from Heaven. 

To us in the radiant Present, 
As to centuries old and dim, 

God still lives, and earnest spirits 
still, as ever, speak through Him. 



God's Perpetual Inspiration. 29 

Not another Holy Spirit, 

Grown degenerate in its power, 
Answers to the pure heart's incense, 

Rising at the present hour, 

But the same that moved old Peter, 

'Mid the Pentecost array, 
Thrills anew the quickened pulses 

Of the Peters of our day. 

Nor to fishermen of the Present 
Are God's gifts by measure doled, 

But He pours them forth as freely 
As on James and John of old. 

Never dries the holy fountain, 

And the stream is never low; 
Nor do ages, in their passage, 

Check the heavenly spirit's flow. 

As from out the germ the leaflet, 
From the bud the radiant flower, 

80 still fairer revelations 
Are unfolding. every hour. 

Providence, that rules the nations, 
Thus I read the historian's page. — 

Living still, and still creating, 
Is the Spirit of the Age. 

Perish, then, the old dead letter, 

While the passing years unroll 
Teachings for each new condition 

Of the still expanding Soul. 



30 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritiea. 

DREAMS CLASSIFIED. 

Dreams should be divided into three classes, 
viz : First, Those consisting of the action of the 
mind, as manifested through the deranged or 
imperfect action of the brain. Such derangement 
or imperfect action occurs frequently either while 
the person is awake or asleep, and from various 
causes, such as fever, indigestion, the excess ve 
use of intoxicating drinks, and other causes. 
When the patient is thus afflicted only during 
sleep it is called dreaming; but when awake, 
insanity. Dreams of the lower animals are prob- 
ably of this class. All materialistic writers base 
their explanation of the cause of dreams solely 
upon the causes of these mental irregularities, 
while they ignore the other more important 
classes of dreams. 

Class second consists of literal, prophetic 
dreams. Sights, sounds, scenes and events are 
literally foreshadowed to the mind as they are 
destined to occur in the future. Those of this 
class are of the most infrequent occurrence, yet 
often enough that few persons have not either 
experienced them, or heard narratives of cases 
amongst their most intimate friends. Those of 
(lie second class require no special explanation, 
ause the revelations are given in a manner or 



Dreams Classified, 31 

language readily understood by all who experi- 
ence or hear of them. Yet we should not over- 
look the important evidence of super-mundane 
intelligence manifested in them. Whether that 
super-mundane intelligence is a manifestation of 
the powers of our own souls when freed from the 
action of the brain, in a profound sleep, or as in 
death, or whether it is inspired by God, devil, 
demon, or an individual who has already been 
liberated from the flesh and become an inhabit- 
ant of the spiritual world, is a very proper ques- 
tion for consideration. In any case, it furnishes 
proof of intelligence superior to that which is 
manifested through the normal functions of the 
brain, and consequently demonstrates the fact of 
a spiritual life. 

Class third consists of symbolic prophetic 
dreams. They are of frequent occurrence to all 
classes of people, and are therefore the most im- 
portant. Nearly all the dreams found recorded 
in the Jewish and Christian Scriptures are of 
this class. This is chiefly the class which has 
attracted the attention of the world at all times, 
and are those which have baffled the understand- 
ing of the world, and to which our pages will be 
chiefly devoted. 



32 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 



RULES GOVERNING THE INTERPRETATION 
OF DREAMS. 

Error cannot be reduced to rules, because 
when so done, and practically applied, contradic- 
tions would appear. But whereas the true an- 
swer to all mathematical problems are the same, 
by whatever process the problem is solved, so no 
truth can contradict another truth; therefore, 
although the knowledge of our subject is very 
imperfect, yet we may venture to lay down a few 
rules which we believe will assist the student in 
the practical comprehension of prophetic dreams. 

Rule 1. — All persons whose sleeping im- 
pressions are sufficiently vivid to carry a remem- 
brance of them into the waking state, have a 
foreshadowing of accidents, unusual events, the 
advent of new ideas, principles, etc., which they 
are liable to or may feel an interest in, or to 
which their attention may be attracted. And 
although many of the thoughts in sleep originate 
in the spiritual mind, and often reach out into 
the future of matters unthought of by the natural 
mind, as in foreseeing accidents, etc., yet the 
previous thoughts of the natural mind also fre- 
quently lead the sleeping mind to forecast the 
future of a matter which the waking or natural 
mind has recently dwelt upon. Many dreamers 



Rules for Dream Interpretation. 33 

and seers, and also readers of revelation, have 
been misled by this fact, because they have gen- 
erally expected fulfillment to follow soon, whereas 
in some cases, the foreshadowing was of events 
many years, and even thousands of years, in the 
future time, and was called up by the dreamer's 
or seer's anxiety at that time upon that subject. 
Such was the case in the dreams of Nebuchad- 
nezzar, Daniel, St. John, and others. 

Rule 2. — Prophetic dreams may generally 
be distinguished from those which are caused by 
some irregularity of the physical system, by 
being received while the system is in a good 
state of health ; by a sudden awakening at the 
termination of the dream; by vivid mental im- 
pressions, whether the dream be remembered or 
not. But in regard to the state of health there 
are many exceptions, depending upon the nature 
of the illness, for I have found cases in which 
there were prophetic dreams in the last stages of 
a fatal illness. 

Rule 3. — Generally in prophetic dreams, 
organized human power, such as governments, 
churches, societies, also ideas, principles, traits 
of character, diseases, periods of time, systems of 
things, etc., assume the material forms of man, 
beast, bird, reptile, or any other object known 
to the mind, or which can be conceived of by 



34 Dreamer's Teacher- and Oneirocritica. 

the imagination. This constitutes the language 
of dreams. 

Eule 4. — Vivid and agreeable impressions 
after awakening from a dream (whether the dream 
be remembered or not), signify a good dream, 
foreshadowing that which is good ; but to awaken 
in grief or tears, or in great fright, or with ill 
feeling or ill impressions, signifies impending 
evil in the subject of the dream. This fact will 
often afford a clue to the true interpretation of 
the dream. 

Rule 5. — The subject of dream revelations 
is generally on a plane with the daily thoughts 
of the dreamer. If his mind be engrossed with 
the simple matters of every-day life, his revela- 
tions will probably run in that channel ; but if 
he rises in contemplation to the future of gov- 
ernments, churches, and comprehensive ideas, 
principles, etc., his dreams will foreshadow the 
future of those things. 

We may readily perceive the truth of the 
foregoing rule by contrasting the dreams of 
Joseph in Egypt, and of Pharoah's butler and 
baker, with those of Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar, 
and St. John. 

Rule 6. — The most familiar ideas and ma- 
terial objects, whether animate or inanimate, are 
typically presented in dreams to represent that 



Rules for Dream Interpretation. 35 

which is intended to be revealed. This fact has 
given rise to the erroneous idea that dreams are 
only the incoherent repetitions of previous wak- 
ing thoughts. 

For the illustration of Rule 6 we will state 
that a revelation upon any subject, when re- 
ceived by a sailor, will be typically set forth by 
such scenes upon the sea or upon the ship as the 
sailor has been familiar with. And the same 
revelation to a farmer, teacher, physician, priest, 
soldier, etc., would be typically set forth by 
scenes severally connected with their professions 
or occupations. 

This does not contradict the claim of a gen- 
eral language in symbolic dreams, but simply 
shows that illustrations in dream language as- 
sume various forms in accordance with one's 
most familiar thoughts. Therefore, when one 
attempts to interpret a dream, he should duly 
consider all the surrounding conditions of the 
dreamer. 

Rule 7. — Each dream is generally limited 
to one subject. That subject may embrace a 
chain of events, including a forecast of the whole 
history of one's life, or the entire chain of events 
which may be connected with any given subject. 
Or it may present a comprehensive view of a 
government, or of all governments, or of all or- 



^6 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritiea. 

^anized forms of religion, or even the whole 
history of our race. But the idea which we wish 
to convey in regard to the limit of a dream to 
one subject, is, that government, religion, busi- 
ness, accidents, domestic matters, etc., will each 
constitute a separate dream, except cases in which 
the events are inseparably connected. This fact 
is apparent in all biblical dreams, when they are 
correctly interpreted, and may also be readily 
perceived in our usual dreams. 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 37 



DREAM AND VISION SYMBOLS DEFINED. 

Abyss. — This word, in its alphabetical order 
appears first upon our list of definitions. And 
whereas we give no definitions which are not 
founded upon known experience in dreaming, 
and in this case the record of experiences is quite 
limited, therefore but little can be stated in re- 
gard to it. But so far as investigated, to dream 
of falling or plunging into a dark abyss, fore- 
shadows dangerous illness or accident, and if the 
dream ends abruptly without other scenes follow- 
ing, it signifies death. It is probable, however, 
that the symbol may sometimes appear in illus- 
trating a reckless engagement in an enterprise in 
which results are doubtful and unforeseen. 

One illustration of the truth of our first 
definition may be found under the head of " Mis- 
cellaneous Dream Experiences." 

Air, or Atmosphere. — The air, or atmos- 
phere, by its peculiar qualities, and its action in 
calms and storms, very aptly typifies the human 
mind, or public opinion, and is so recognized by 
the powers which construct the language of 
dreams and visions, consequently the wind being 
the action of the atmosphere, it represents the 
action of the human mind. The happy condition 



38 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

of mind inspired by success in business is often 
preceded by dreams of flying through the air ; 
and anticipations of honor, wealth, or fame are 
preceded by dreams of being up in a balloon, or 
otherwise floating about in the air. 

First Illustration, — A whirlwind, with some 
fire about its outer edges, was found to foreshadow 
a protracted religious revival. 

Second. — A gold mine excitement in a cer- 
tain place was foreshadowed by a whirlwind. 

Third. — The darkening of the human mind 
caused by the preaching of the doctrine of Mo- 
hammed, was foreshadowed to St. John by smoke 
issuing from the pit and darkening the air. 

Fourth. — St. John also saw the seventh vial 
of wrath poured out upon the air; and that typ- 
ical illustration is now (1886) being fulfilled in 
the extraordinary mental activity now prevailing 
throughout the world, and in which government, 
religion, labor, science, and many other subjects, 
are undergoing great changes. (See Wind.) 

Alarm. — To dream of being alarmed fore- 
shadows excitement, disappointment, or sudden 
discovery of loss, or cause for grief. 

Alone. — To dream of being alone signifies 
to be alone in sentiment, belief, pursuit, or what- 
ever subject the dream may have reference to. 

Illustration. — The reader will be correct in 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 39 

presuming that the writer has had many dreams 
of being alone while writing upon the subject of 
dreams. A candidate destined to be successful 
at an election will dream of being alone, because, 
in the nature of the case, no other person will be 
sharing his situation. The absence of public 
approval or sympathy may also be preceded by 
dreams of being alone. 

Anger. — To dream of being angry or hav- 
ing a quarrel, literally foreshadows anger, or a 
great effort to overcome some difficulty, which 
may consist of illness or other trouble. 

Animals. — Animals, consisting of the va- 
rious classes and species, have a very wide range 
of signification in symbolic dreams and visions. 
In dreams which have reference to public affairs 
the largest species of ferocious beasts represent 
organized human force or power, in the form of 
a government, church, or nation. 

First Illustration. — The Babylonian, Persian, 
Grecian, and Roman empires were thus repre- 
sented in Daniel's visions. 

Second. — St. John also foresaw governments 
and churches represented by ferocious and terri- 
ble beasts. The character of the beast thus seen 
typifies the moral character of the organization. 

Third. — But in dreams or visions which 
have reference to private affairs, I have known a 



40 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

lion to represent power, or strength, or ferocity, 
and also persons having power over other per- 
sons by virtue of a business arrangement, and in 
some cases they represent persons of great moral 
power. Disease sometimes assumes the appear- 
ance of a lion. 

Bears and Tigers represent unfriendly 
opponents, and persons of crabbed and petulant 
temper. 

Nameless Monsters, and sometimes other 
animals, represent disagreement, disease, death, 
or a frightful condition of business; also an ill 
trait of character. 

Elephants and Oxen represent a very 
unsatisfactory condition of business. 

Cows represent persons of the female sex, 
and also a trader or purchaser ; often a sale or a 
purchase of land. 

Cats represent swindlers, quarrels, ill-feel- 
ings, etc. The family cat may, however, repre- 
sent family matters. 

Rats represent men who are thievish or 
tricky in their dealings ; also an association of 
people, or a society. 

Rabbits. — A running rabbit represents a 
vain pursuit, or a fruitless effort. Young rab- 
bits, however, represent innocence. 

Bulls represent persons of force and stub- 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 41 

born will of either sex; also, in some cases, a 
beau or persistent suitor. 

Minks, Otters, Squirrels, and probably 
many other species of small animals, represent 
contention, backbiting, scandal, and domestic 
infelicity. I have also known insanity and other 
diseases to be represented by strange animals. 

Swine or Hogs. — A fat hog represents a 
business or job which proves to be profitable ; 
bleeding hogs represent loss in business, and hogs 
seen in a field destroying crops, represent men 
who are unjustly taking that which does not be- 
long to them. 

Dogs represent persons, and the ideas, in- 
tentions, and diseases of persons. The family 
dog, however, represents cautiousness in regard 
to some certain matter. 

Spotted animals represent evil, or moral de- 
fects. 

For more lengthy definitions, accompanied 
with practical illustrations of some of the princi- 
pal animals, see them in their alphabetical order. 

Apparitions represent good or ill accord- 
ing to the appearance or act of the apparition. 
In the ancient and middle ages the appearance 
of apparitions of saints and demons in dreams 
were very frequent, and they brought words of 
promise, or threats of evil, which were generally 



42 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritiea. 

fulfilled ; but since ideas have changed in regard 
to demons and saints, the symbols have also 
changed. Consequently dreams of demons are 
less frequent than formerly, but dreams of saints 
have not so nearly disappeared, because the be- 
lief in them is more generally retained. To 
dream of seeing a saint, or one connected with 
the ancient church, has been found to have ref- 
erence to religious matters, and also to scenes of 
death; but to dream of seeing deceased persons 
of modern times will have reference to that which 
the individual seen was distinguished for while 
living, or that for which the individual was most 
strongly impressed in the mind of the dreamer. 
If the individual whose apparition is seen was 
distinguished for either good or ill health, good 
or ill fortune in a special line of business, or for 
some special trait of character, etc., he or she will 
foreshadow something relating to such specialty ; 
but if the strongest impression which the dreamer 
has of the person so seen, is that caused by the 
death of that person, then the apparition is a 
foreshadowing of death to some one in whom the 
dreamer feels much interest. 

An apparition sometimes represents a mys- 
terious subject of study, or a vexatious business 
matter. 

Apples. — A pile of good apples has refer- 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 43 

ence to pecuniary profits in that which is repre- 
sented, but the profits are reduced in proportion 
as there appears damaged apples in the pile. To 
eat apples signifies to receive instruction, but 
does not appear to represent pecuniary success. 

Archway. — To dream of being engaged in 
building an archway has reference to authorship 
of spiritual works. Archways seen may also 
have reference to literary honors. 

Arise. — To arise signifies preparation for 
action. (See Position.) 

Arm. — The left and right arm, like the left 
and right hand, has reference respectively to past 
and future moral work, but the arm differs from 
the hand in representing ability to do, while the 
hand represents the doing. A large or strong 
arm signifies ability to accomplish that which it 
has reference to, but a weak or small right arm 
signifies inability or moral weakness in the 
matter. 

Ashes. — Connected with ashes there is 
nothing profitable. They have been known to 
signify illness, death, disappointment, or the des- 
truction of something. 

Illustration. — Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna y 
dreamed a few days before his martyrdom, that 
he saw the pillow on which he reclined set on 



44 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

fire and consumed to ashes — a dream which he 
truly considered as prophetic of his fate. 

Asleep. — (See Sleeping.) 

Attention. — To dream of receiving atten- 
tion from an audience or any considerable num- 
ber of people, literally foreshadows the reception 
of attention from the public. Many persons who 
have won fame before a public audience, were 
encouraged in their early efforts by dreams of 
applauding audiences. 

Back Door. — (See Door.) 

Balances, or Scales, represent investiga- 
tion, deficiency, change, or the ending of some 
certain matter. 

Balloons. — (See Air or Atmosphere.) 

Banks represent such business as is done in 
banks. To dream of entering a bank foreshad- 
ows business where money is expected, and if 
there appears to be conversation over the bank- 
ing counter, and no irregularity appears in the 
matter, there will be money received from the 
business represented; but if there appears some 
irregularity in the proceedings, the signification 
will be governed by the form of that irregularity. 

Barefooted. — To dream of being bare- 
footed signifies exposure, or full expression of the 
mind or character in regard to any subject which 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 45 

the dream may have reference to, but when the 
feet appear clean it does not signify shame. 

Barns invariably have reference to prop- 
erty. If they appear well filled they signify 
success in the matter referred to, but when they 
appear empty, or in a dilapidated condition, they 
signify loss in the matter; when on fire, there 
will be strife about property. The various kinds 
of property stored in the barn, the condition of 
the same, and the character or peculiarity of per- 
sons present, should be duly considered in the 
interpretation, for it is in such things that we 
may obtain a clue to the subject. 

Basement. — (See House.) 

Beads, and other ornaments, have reference 
to musical or other educational acquirements or 
accomplisments. 

Beard. — The beard has reference to the 
state of the mind, such as distrust or suspicion. 
A gray beard has been known to represent ill- 
health. 

Bears. — (See Animals.) 

Beating. — To dream of beating or whip- 
ping a person signifies to defeat or disappoint 
that person, or whomsoever that person may rep- 
resent. 

Beautiful. — Scenery of an indescribable 
beauty has often foreshadowed death or danger- 
ous illness. 



46 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

Beds. — Lying in bed sometimes has refer- 
ence to a state of inactivity in the matter repre- 
sented. It sometimes represents a position im- 
posed, or duty assigned. Beds also represent 
matrimonial matters. 

To dream of carrying bed clothing or straw 
ticks signifies to be overburdened with unprofit- 
able business. 

Bees. — We have known a colony of bees to 
represent people gathered at a convention. We 
have also known honey stored in a hive to rep- 
resent accumulation of property. We have 
known worms seen in a hive to represent waste 
and squandering of property ; and we have known 
bees seen working to represent persevering in- 
dustry. To dream of carrying a large lot of bees 
has reference to intentions in regard to the in- 
vestment of capital. 

Before. — The things of the future, and 
also object, J ideas or studies which one may be 
persuing, or giving attention to, are represented 
by symbol scenes before or in front of said person. 

Behind. — The things or events of the past, 
intentions abandoned, solicitations which are not 
heeded, or that which is distasteful or repellant 
to the mind — all these will appear in symbol 
scones behind the dreamer, or other person who 
mav be the chief actor in the matter set forth. 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 47 

Bells. — To dream of hearing the ringing 
or tolling of bells signifies death, or news, or the 
introduction of a new subject of thought The 
ringing of the door-bell often foreshadows dis- 
ease or death. It also foreshadows the announce- 
ment of other changes, such as the marriage of 
a member of the family to which the dreamer is 
connected, or the introduction of any other sub- 
ject which may arise, in which the family will 
take much interest in, such as a religious revival, 
political campaign, etc. 

Blackberries represent worldly honors 
and rewards. 

Birds. — The numerous species of birds, as 
well as animals, have a wide range of significa- 
tion. We have duly considered such dreams of 
them as have come to our notice, and offer the 
following, subject to the test of future experience : 

A snow-bird represents a cold ; a canary- 
bird represented a housekeeper or v-ife; a crow, 
with a naked breast and full craw, represented a 
death by consumption ; a vain pursuit of a tur- 
key represented a vain pursuit of profits in the 
matter which it referred to ; ducks have refer- 
ence to matters in which we will have dealings 
with the public. The beheading of King Pha- 
roah's baker was foreshown by a dream of fowls, 
which were eating from the bread-basket which 



48 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

was upou his head. A flock of pigeons repre- 
sented the fleeting ideas of a certain man; a 
white dove represents spiritual endowment, and 
sometimes death ; domesticated chickens repre- 
sent diseases, hobbies, intentions, and details of 
homework ; peacocks represent the tricks of law- 
yers, and Mother Grundy, or the popular ways 
of the world ; a beautiful swan represented a tal- 
ented man ; geese flying upward and settling 
down again, represented hope and disappoint- 
ment in an election campaign ; geese flying down 
a river, and passing out of sight, also signified 
the defeat of the dreamer's political party ab the 
election. A lady, when a maiden, dreamed that 
she had found a nest with nine finches in it. She 
afterwards married a man whose name was Finch, 
by whom she bad nine children. In short, birds 
represent persons, hopes, intentions, ideas, dis- 
eases, etc., according to the form of the illustra- 
tion. 

Bleeding, or Loss of Blood, or the ap- 
pearance of spilled blood, invariably signifies 
loss of money, property, or life; and the part 
from which the blood appears to flow will have 
a signification which may sometimes furnish a 
clue to the source of the impending loss. Bleed- 
ing from the mouth signifies loss by something 
spoken or written. 



Dream and Vision. Symbols Defined, 49 

Boar. — A bloody tyrant. 

Illustration. — The night before the arrest 
and execution of Lord Hastings, who was be- 
headed by the Protector, afterwards Richard the 
Third, Lord Stanlye sent a trustie messenger 
unto him at midnight in all the haste, requiring 
him to rise and ride away with him, for he was 
disposed utterly no longer to bide, he had so 
fearful a dreame, in which he thought a boare 
with his tushes so rased them by the heads that 
the blood ran about their shoulders. Lord Hast- 
ings refused to heed the warning, and paid the 
penalty with his life. 

Blindness represents inability to perceive 
or understand the matter referred to. 

Boats. — To dream of being on board a boat 
upon the water may represent either the journey 
of life or a position in reference to some special 
matter of business. If it be the journey of life, 
then to appear to drift with the current signifies 
to do as others do — conform to the customs and 
ideas of the world, whether right or wrong ; but 
to appear to face the current, and try to go up- 
stream, signifies opposition to popular ideas and 
customs. If a special matter is represented, 
that fact may generally be known by the sym- 
bols connected with it. 

A small boat propelled by hand represents 



50 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

an individal enterprise, and if the boat should 
appear to be capsized, or partially filled with 
water, it signifies difficulties or failure connected 
with the said enterprise. 

Steamboats represent courts of law, organ- 
ized corporations, or great business enterprises, 
also the action of belligerent parties, and to dream 
of riding on a steamboat will signify some con- 
nection with such or similar things. To be on 
board of a sinking boat represents failure in 
either business or health. 

The size of the boat which appears in the 
dream will indicate the magnitude of the enter- 
prise which it refers to, or the extent of its rela- 
tions to the public world. 

Bonnets. — Women wearing old style bon- 
nets, sometimes trimmed with black, and in 
funeral procession, have often been seen in con- 
nection with failure in business. 

Books. — An open book represents that 
which is known to the world, but a sealed book 
represents the unknown events of the future. 
The seven-sealed book seen by St. John repre- 
sented the then unknown future of the world's 
history, divided into seven periods. St. John 
also foresaw the time when other books should 
be opened, and among them was the book of life. 
Those passages have reference to the opening of 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 51 

various branches of knowledge, and among them 
will be the knowledge of a true and correct life. 

To dream of account books has reference to 
business matters, and to dream of losing account 
books signifies loss in business. 

The appearance of books and the reading of 
books, has reference to new subjects of thought 
and study. 

Illustration. — March, 1 885. To the Editor 
of the Dream Investigator : I had a dream in I860 
that I have thought about a great deal, and have 
not yet found any satisfactory solution for. 1 
dreamed I was looking at books, or handling 
them, when I found a very large one with the 
very remarkable title, " Vice President of Know- 
ledge." I was very much impressed with its 
name and also with its appearance. I also found 
one entitled " Nasby's Practice of Medicine." 
These books appeared to be given to me, and 
appeared to be presents for my use. I was very 
proud of them, but what could they mean, what 
was foreshadowed by those books? I have 
watched closely for their meaning, have failed to 
recognize it, or else it has never come to pass. 
What do you think of it? 

W. J. Atkinson. 

Interpretation. — The gentleman's dream of 
looking at books, and handling them, had refer- 



f>2 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

race to the various subjects of thought and study 
which were then before the world, and which he, 
as a thinking man, was meditating upon. The 
t wo books with singular titles, and which made 
a vivid impression, both on account of their 
names and appearance, had reference to two pe- 
culiar subjects of study, and those subjects of 
study either have attracted his attention and made 
a deep impression upon his mind, or will yet, at 
some future time, so engage his attention. In 
accordance with the rule, the words of the titles 
of these books were irrelevant, and only signified 
notion, either mentally or physically, in the mat- 
ter which was the subject of the dream. 

Since publishing the foregoing (in the Dream 
Investigator) I have further learned by corres- 
pondence with the gentleman, that the subjects 
of spiritualism, and the magnetic and vitapathic 
system of healing, engrossed his attention, and 
he was actively engaged in those subjects about 
the time of the dream, or soon after; and since 
learning this I have no doubt but the dream had 
reference to those two subjects, although their 
first introduction might have been either a little 
before or a little after the occurrence of the 
dream. Although, as stated words are generally 
irrelevant to the subject, yet in this case the 
words "Nasby's Practice of Medicine," doesap- 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 53 

pear to have some relation to the subject, because 
the practice of medicine is supposed by many to 
have some relation to the healing of disease. 

Boots and Shoes, or Moccasins, have ref- 
erence to dealings in real estate, and to one's 
standing in regard to property or reputation, and 
where they appear to be used for the purpose of 
concealing the feet, it has reference to the con- 
cealment of our standing in regard to the mat- 
ter which is the subject of the dream, whatever 
that may be. 

Boots or shoes in ill condition, or out of re- 
pair, signify loss in business, or ill standing, or 
slow progress in studies. 

Bottled, and Corked Up, have reference 
to something undeveloped or unavailable, or per- 
manently invested. 

Bound. — To dream of being bound has ref- 
erence to moral restraints from whatever source- 
it may come. It may be legal binding by writ- 
ing and contract, or it may signify the binding 
of one to his bed by illness. 

Bowels, or Loins, have reference to lineage 
or posterity. 

Illustration. — Arlotte, the mother of Wil- 
liam the Conqueror, dreamed that her bowels 
were spread over all Normandy. 

Boxes have reference to business. 



54 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

Boys appear very frequently in dream scenes, 
and, unlike girls, they generally represent ideas, 
intentions, and enterprises destined to be success- 
ful. They also often represent one in our ser- 
vice, or the means made use of to accomplish an 
object. Boys on horseback represent the com- 
mencement of a new enterprise. (See Sons.) 

Brass is one of the base metals, but when 
burnished is distinguished for its brilliancy ; it 
therefore represents a dazzling sham. 

Illustration. — A famous lottery scheme, 
which was extensively advertised, was seen in a 
dream represented by a bright brass windmill. 

Second. — The Grecian empire, under the 
reign of Alexander, falsely called the Great, wa§ 
foreshadowed by brass in Nebuchadnezzar's dream 
of the image. 

We have never found brass (except fine 
brass) to represent anything of good quality. 

Bride. — To dream of being dressed in white 
and about to become a bride, is often literally 
fulfilled ; but when symbolic, foreshadows death. 

Bridges represent ideas in reference to the 
relations existing between the physical and spir- 
itual worlds. A person engaged in studying and 
writing upon theological or spiritual questions, 
will dream of many bridges, some of which may 
appear in a dilapidated condition. 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 55 

Bridges may also have reference to any 
change of condition ; and to dream of passing 
over a bridge, or footway, like crossing a stream, 
signifies death, marriage, or other change of con- 
dition. Sometimes falling from a bridge into 
the water, and sinking, signifies illness, and if 
the person does not appear to rise again, it is 
death. 

Brightness, or Brilliancy, represents 
prominence before the world, but the quality of 
the object seen will be found to correspond to the 
true value or importance of that which is symbol- 
ized ; therefore bright gold must represent a bet- 
ter quality than bright brass. 

Brothers and Sisters often appear in 
dreams relating to friendship and love. A wife, 
or intended wife, or one who aspires to be such, 
will appear in the character of a sister ; and when 
the dreamer does not reciprocate the proffered 
love, the other party will appear in the character 
of a sick brother. 

Brother and sister, as seen in dreams, are 
often interchangeable, — one appearing instead of 
the other at different times relating to the same 
case, according to the changing state of feeling 
between the parties who are represented. 

Brothers also represent our peers and help- 
ers in any certain matter, or one of the same fra- 
ternity. (See Eelatives.) 



56 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

Buckets. — Water buckets have reference to 
investment of capital. 

Bugs. — To dream of bugs, or vermin upon 
the head or any part of the body, foreshadows 
disease or pain in that locality. 

Bed-bugs have reference to domestic diffi- 
culties. 

Buildings. — (See Houses.) 

Bulls represent persons of stubborn will ; 
also a persistent suitor or beau. A roaring bull 
represents one who is engaged in a war of words. 
The extent of his power will be indicated by the 
size of his horns. We must not neglect to duly 
consider circumstances in all cases; a pet bull, 
like other cattle, may represent business matters. 

Butchers, with white aprons, represent 
death. 

Butterflies have been known to represent 
disease and death. 

Calling aloud. — (See Screaming.) 

Calyes. — Calves have been known to rep- 
resent loss by some stupid error. 

Canary-bird. — (See Birds.) 

Candles, Candlesticks and Lamps. — 
Burning candles and lamps represent individuals 
who teach or attract the attention of the public, 
or those who win fame by either good or evil 
deeds. Candlesticks represent any organization 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 57 

V 

of people who send out teachers to instruct the 

world, or to impart moral, spiritual or political 

light. 

Illustration. — In St. John's visions the seven 
churches which were in Asia were represented by 
seven golden candlesticks. 

Cardinal Points. — When the cardinal 
points of the compass appear as a distinct feature 
of a dream, it has an important signification, 
which, when clearly understood, will greatly as- 
sist in the true interpretation of the dreams in 
which such feature is found, but our observations 
thus far are too limited to enable us to realize the 
full benefit of what we hope for upon this point. 
We will, however, state what appears to be the 
facts, so far as the case has been investigated by 
us, as follows : To dream of going west appears 
most successful, and going north appears favor- 
able, but going east or south appears to be un- 
successful. And the coming from, instead of 
going toward those points, reverses those defini- 
tions. The foregoing appears to apply to all 
events and things, as well as to persons. 

Illustration. — Editor Dream Investigator — 
Sir : On the night of July 21st (1885) I dreamed 
that Gen. Grant was at my place, as a guest, and 
stayed two nights and a day. He wrote some- 
thing in a plain, round hand, but I could not tell 



58 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

what it was. His appearance was probably what 
it really was fifteen or twenty years ago. There 
appeared to be some one with him. When he 
went away he went eastward, and without bid- 
ding me u good-bye." From the time I dreamed 
this he lived just the length of time which I 
thought he stayed at my house. I never was an 
admirer of Grant except as a general. 

Wm. N.. Bennett. 

Many other illustrations of the cardinal 
points will be found under the head of Miscella- 
neous Dream Experiences. 

Carpenter's Tools and Shop represent 
intellectual effort in some field of thought or lit- 
erary work. 

Carpets sometimes represent wealth ; when 
spread out, in lands or mines. 

Carriages. — To dream of riding in a car- 
riage sometimes has reference to the journey of 
life, but often has reference to performing the 
duties of a profession. A number of men to- 
gether, riding in a carriage, has reference to lite- 
rary work. Entering a carriage dressed in white 
signifies death. 

Carrion, in the mouth, has reference to 
something said which we must regret. 

Cars. — To dream of riding on cars may rep- 
resent either a general or special pursuit. It 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. b9 

may be general by representing the common or 
every-day affairs in the progress of life, or it may 
be special by representing one engaged in a po- 
litical campaign, or any special business enter- 
prise. The running of a hand-car has reference 
to some single-handed special business. 

Cats. — (See Animals.) 

Cattle. — A number of cattle without any 
noticeable peculiarity has been known to repre- 
sent people ; they have also been known to rep- 
resent land- estates. But for animals of the cattle 
kind individually, see them in their alphabetical 
order. 

Cellar. — The cellar or basement of a build- 
ing which represents business, has reference to 
the moral or legal ties upon which the said busi- 
ness may be founded ; but the cellar of a dwel- 
ling house has reference to the domestic relations 
of the family. And in dreams foreshadowing 
marriage, divorce, or disagreement in the family, 
the cellar frequently appears in the typical illus- 
tration of it. 

Chair, or one seated in a chair, has refer- 
ence to situation or position, and sometimes to a 
state of inactivity in regard to the matter which 
is the subject of the dream. 

Illustration. — Nero dreamed that he saw the 
chair of Jove pass into the palace of Vespasian. 



60 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

Although Vespasian was not the immediate suc- 
cessor of Nero, yet he was not long in obtaining 
that position after the death of Nero. 

Cherries. — Gathering cherries has been 
known to represent the success of a pupil while 
engaged in some of the higher special branches 
of study. 

Chickens, or domesticated fowls, represent 
ideas, intentions in regard to business, diseases, 
domestic matters, cares, and duties of the home, 
in accordance with the form of the illustration. 
A white hen represents illness. 

Child or Children. — Children are born 
of the body, and ideas, principles, theories, traits 
of character, ruling passions, intentions, desires, 
etc., etc., are born of the mind or spirit, as man- 
ifested through the flesh. In dream language 
the former is typical of the latter, as material 
things are invariably typical of mental and spirit- 
ual things. And we may add that male children 
generally represent ideas or intentions destined 
to be successful, while females represent the un- 
successful. And such as appear unnaturally 
small represent that which will never win its 
way to public notice. 

Illustration. — A woman was described in 
the Apocalypse as being clothed with the sun, etc. 
She represented the primitive Christian Church, 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 61 

and she brought forth a male child, which repre- 
sented the Christian creed, and its success in the 
world. 

Children also appear frequently in modern 
dreams, and when I have had opportunity to* 
trace their signification, I have found them m 
accordance with the above. 

Children also represent weakness and help- 
lessness, and especially moral and intellectual 
weakness. The world of mankind are often rep- 
resented in dreams as untaught children in re- 
gard to much that they should know. 

Church Edifice. — (See House.) 

Circus. — A circus represents the busy world 
of humanity. To dream of entering a circus tent 
where people are gathered together, foreshadows 
one's appearance before the public, as actor, lec- 
turer, author, or other public capacity. 

Cities represent the organized forms of 
government, religion, and general customs and 
practices of society. And whereas the Israelites 
suffered in captivity in Egypt, and in Babylon, 
and they also had a traditional abhorrence of 
Sodom for its general corruption and wickedness, 
therefore those cities appear in the dreams and 
visions of their prophets as symbols representing 
the general wickedness, oppression, and misgov- 
ernment of the world, many centuries after 



62 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

Sodom, Egypt, and Babylon had passed forever 
from the stage of existence. And on account of 
a similar national bias, their own idolized city of 
Jerusalem was a symbol of customs and practices 
of the perfected millenial day, called by them 
the New Jerusalem. 

In St. John's visions Babylon had reference 
to the wrongs of the world generally, including 
the wrongs of church and state, and capital and 
labor. The downfall of these wrongs is graphi- 
cally foreshadowed in the book of Revelation^ 
Chapter xviii. 

To dream of passing along the streets of a 
town or city signifies that you will appear before 
the world in some public capacity. 

Authors may observe that city scenes appear 
frequently in their dreams. 

Climbing. — To dream of climbing upwards 
sometimes signifies effort to rise intellectually or 
pecuniarily in the world ; but to dream of being 
up on a ladder, or climbing about steep cliffs, or 
old buildings, represent difficulties and danger 
in business. 

Success in climbing upward to a better place 
signifies triumph over difficulties; but to dream 
of climbing downward on rugged mountain sides 
.signifies financial failure. 

Clock. — (See Hour.) 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 63 

Clothing. — The various articles of cloth- 
ing seen in a dream upon a person, represent 
profession, habits, traits of character, state of 
health, moral standing, or standing in regard to 
property, social relations, etc. The person upon 
whom the clothing is seen may or may not be a 
symbol. 

Primitive Christianity was symbolically 
foreshown to St. John in the form of a woman 
clothed with the sun (true spiritual light). Many 
of the characters seen in St. John's visions were 
distinguished for some peculiar kind of clothing, 
which had reference to the subject which they 
represented. The bride who represented the 
millenial church was arrayed in fine linen, clean 
and white ; the saints and righteous were also 
dressed in white, while the woman who repre- 
sented the abominable church was dressed in 
purple and scarlet, etc. 

To be dressed in pure white clothes repre- 
sents the truth and purity of religion, and some- 
times death ; but clothes of other colors represent 
ill traits and imperfections of character, or evil 
deeds. A hat may represent one's wife, estate, 
accomplishments, or official duties — that for 
which the person is most distinguished. I have 
known the Loss of a wife, or a considerable por- 
tion of one's estate, to be represented by the 



64 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

dream of the loss of a hat. I have also known 
an old straw hat to represent illness, and a bright 
new hat a new and attractive business. I have 
also known a white hat to represent death. 

A shawl, comforter, scarf, handkerchief, or 
the like, has reference to authorship, or writing 
of newspaper articles. A vest has reference to 
ruling traits, which may be for the accumulation 
of property, or appetite for intoxicating drinks. 
Coats and overcoats have reference to conceal- 
ment of intentions, precaution or protection in 
business or other matters. The emblems of 
mourning, either black or white, often literally 
appear in dreams ; and the perversions of civil- 
ized life is also often represented by one dressed 
in a fine black suit. It sometimes represents 
one's popularity before the world. 

An umbrella has reference to precautions or 
defense against slander or scandal. 

Gkves or mittens have reference to matri- 
monial matters, or intentions, or thoughts relat- 
ing to that matter; but they do not signify 
marriage or engagement unless they appear upon 
the hand. In connection with the foregoing we 
should bear in mind the fact that the right hand 
represents present and future acts, the left hand, 
past. 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 65 

To dream of trying the fit of clothing signi- 
fies the selection of a profession or occupation. 

To dream of undressing signifies exposure 
of the mind upon some certain subject, either by 
speaking, writing, or publishing. 

Dirty clothes collected for washing fore- 
shadows illness or death. 

Ragged or dirty clothes have reference to 
public disapproval, unprofitable business, or bus- 
iness adversities. 

Illustration. — Petinus, who received Pom- 
pey into his barque when flying from the battle 
of Pharsalia, is said to have beholden, when in 
port at Larissa, in his sleep on a preceding night, 
the vanquished hero, unattended and wretchedly 
clothed, approaching him, and to have told the 
dream to his companions before its accomplish- 
ment. 

Good clothes, without special peculiarities 
of style, color, etc., may represent prosperity to 
the wearer, whether in pursuit of an honest or 
dishonest business. 

Clouds. — White clouds represent religious 
ideas, or the coming forth of happy events ; but 
dark clouds foreshadow political or financial 
dangers, or other serious troubles. 

Illustration. — On the morning of November 
7th [1876], a distinguished medium related the 

5 



06 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneii^ocritica. 

following vision, which she said had been that 
morning presented to her : 

She said : " I seemed to be looking out upon 
the most dark and fearfully terrific clouds that I 
ever beheld. The clouds tumbled one upon an- 
other as if swayed by a most violent tornado. 
So fearful was the aspect that I trembled with 
fear. As I gazed upon this terrific commotion 
in the elements, high above and across the hori- 
zon I beheld shadowy outlines of letters, but 
too much obscured by the darkness and commo- 
tion of the clouds to be read. 

" My attention," said this medium, st was 
fastened upon these letters, and by slow degrees 
a silver lining to the terrific clouds began to 
present itself, and the commotion in the elements 
slowly subsided, and the letters began to light 
up and become more visible. Still there was 
too much motion and darkness to determine the 
sentence written, as it were by the finger of the 
Almighty, in the open firmanent of the heavens. 

"As I gazed upon the same," said the me- 
dium, "the storm subsided, the elements became 
calmer and calmer, and the letters rounded out 
in bold relief, and were the most beautiful in 
form and artistic display of anything I ever saw. 

" Now my vision not only rested upon the 
most lovely clouds lighted up from the rays of 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 67 

the sun, then illumining them up in the back- 
ground, but the letters, which had assumed a 
brilliancy, but of a deep blood-red color, could 
be plainly read : 

GOD BLESS OUR COUNTRY ! 
UNION NOW AND FOREVER ! 

The medium said : " This is but a meager 
outline of the vision presented. There was a 
display of beauty and rich accompaniment to the 
prominent and indelible features of the vision, 
which I only retain as a fact, but so dreamlike 
and indistinct that I cannot now bring them to 
my memory so as to describe the enchanting 
scenery. But," said she, "the main features of 
the vision I shall never forget." 

" What does it mean ? " said she. One of 
the listeners replied, " O, this is election day. 
It may be a vision symbolically representing 
something appertaining to political matters. 
Time will tell." 

Those who have taken an interest in politi- 
ca. matters will remember the excitement pre- 
vailing throughout the United States during the 
fall and winter of 1876-7, in regard to the elec- 
toral count between Tilden and Hayes. Our 
country was brought to the verge of civil war, 
and was only saved by the agreement upon a 
commission to settle the matter. 



<*>8 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

The foregoing vision was received on the 
morning of that election day, and was a graphic 
symbolic foreshadowing of the troubles, the re- 
sults of that election, and was published in The 
Religio-Philosophieal Journal immediately after 
the reception of the vision. 

Club. — (See Weapon.) 

Coffins represent either a moral or physi- 
cal death, and we must judge from the connecting 
symbols which of the two it may be. Those en- 
gaged in business in which failure is impending, 
will often dream of seeing coffins and other fu- 
neral trappings. It simply signifies defeat of 
one's purpose in any matter. All changes of con- 
dition is death to the old condition and life to 
the new ; therefore changes, whether for better or 
worse, are foreshadowed by dreams of coffins. 

Coin has reference to business, and good or 
ill is signified by the kind of metal, or the con- 
dition or manner in which it is seen. The recep- 
tion of gold coin represents the greatest success, 
and copper coin falling to the ground represents 
worthlessness and loss. Silver represents a value 
less than gold. (See Money.) 

Cold. — To seem to suffer from cold in a 
dream signifies to suffer in mind from the absence 
of sympathy. 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 69 

Colors. — There is undoubtedly much im- 
portant matter connected with the signification 
of colors, but the collection of experiences is too 
limited to obtain satisfactory results. However, 
we can state that dream language is governed, in 
part, by the customs of the living, therefore both 
white and black emblems are seen in dreams 
which have reference to funeral and death scenes. 
But black generally represents ignorance or want 
of knowledge — that which we are unable to un- 
derstand in regard to the matter which is the 
subject of the dream ; also loss of property. To 
see papers, or public places, draped in black, sig- 
nifies death. Pure white represents the truth of 
religion, aud sometimes death. An imperfect 
white has reference to the various religious creeds, 
law matters, illness, etc. Yellow has been seen 
in connection with the clothing of persons pos- 
sessed of objectionable traits of character. 

Red or scarlet color has been observed in 
connection with the shedding of blood and bel- 
ligerency generally. 

Gray seems to have reference to grief and 
unhappiness. 

A mixture of flashy or gaudy colors is often 
seen in connection with scenes of death. 

Green is not favorable. 



70 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

Columns represent individuals, institutions 
and ancient systems of faith. 

Combing. — (See Hair.) 

Companion. — One's ruling trait of character 
often appears in dreams to themselves material- 
ized as an attendant or companion. 

Consume. — Ideas, principles, or customs 
which are passing away, or being superseded by 
others, will appear as something being consumed 
or burned up. In ancient revelations the word 
" consume " is frequently found, and it has there 
invariably the signification as hereby given. 

Conversation or Speaking invariably 
signifies action in the matter which is the subject 
of the dream. But the words heard spoken are 
often words connected with a subject which is 
more familiar to the mind than the subject of the 
dream, and they are therefore irrelevant to the 
true subject. But when words are heard which 
we have reason to believe have not been sug- 
gested by more familiar subjects, we should take 
heed to them, for they will come to pass. In the 
latter case the words or expressions often furnish 
a clue to the true interpretation of the dream. 

Conversation is often introduced by the in- 
spiring source of dreams or visions, through the 
symbol actors, for the purpose of properly setting 
forth facts connected with the subject of the 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 71 

dream. There are many such cases in St. John's 
visions, and we have found the same to occur 
frequently in modern dreams. 

In a conversation which occurs in a dream 
there is often a mingling of facts with irrelevant 
matter, but the general drift of the words, if 
carefully noted, will reveal the subject of the 
dream. 

Convict. — To dream of being a convict in 
a penitentiary, or other penal institution, fore- 
shadows public disapproval of some act done, 
officially or otherwise. 

Cooking appears to represent the instru- 
mentalities of fate in providing for dealing out 
either good or ill to the parties concerned in the 
subject of the dream. 

Copper. — (See Coin.) 

Corn and Cornmeal have reference to bus- 
iness, and actual ownership may signify success, 
but thus far we have found them associated with 
extravagant hopes of profits which were not 
realized. 

Ears of corn represent years. 

Corn-fodder represents loss and disappoint- 
ment in business. 

Corpse. — A corpse represents one dead in 
regard to the duties which nature has prescribed 



72 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

for any one in this life, or morally dead in regard 
to a special matter. 

CountenA-N ce. — Sadness, seriousness, or 
cheerfulness of countenance, when manifested in 
dreams, literally foreshadows cause for such con- 
dition. (See Face.) 

Cows represent persons of the female sex ; 
also merchants or traders. 

First Illustration. — A woman guilty of bas- 
tardy was represented by a black cow. 

Second. — To the Editor of The Dream Lives- 
tigator : I was once boarding with a merchant 
out in Kansas, when one morning, at breakfast, 
he related the following dream : He thought he 
went out to his stable to feed his cow. He had 
put the corn in the box for her. and started to go 
to the house, when the cow started after him to 
hook him. He managed to get to his back door 
when she hit him such a lick that it sent him 
clean inside and on top of the door, knocking 
him with such force that he knocked down the 
door, — the cow, with her horns in his clothes, 
on top. 

Interpretation. — I told him (the merchant) 
that he would sell out suddenly and for a good 
price, which he did the same day and left for 
Ohio the next. The bargain was made by noon, 
and be got just $1,000 more than he expected to 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 78 

get. No invoice of stock was made — the buyer 
took it off-hand at a lumping guess as to the 
amount of stock, etc. 

With me a cow means a trader, and steers 
or oxen, money. A rampant cow, like she was, 
evidently meant a quick or anxious buyer, etc. 

Elijah S. 

Creek. — To dream of going up along the 
bank of a creek, signifies the pursuit of some 
business matter; but to dream of crossing a 
creek or stream signifies marriage, or other im- 
portant changes. Maidens often foresee their 
future husbands in the person of him who assists 
them in crossing a creek or stream. 

Cripples represent inability and failure in 
business or studies. 

Crown. — A crown represents that which 
constitutes political, religious, or other organized 
human power. It is also a symbol of triumph 
over enemies, disease, or evil passions; also a 
burden imposed or inflicted. 

Crow t s. — A crow with a naked craw was 
death by consumption ; one with drooping wings 
was illness, not fatal. A flock of crows repre- 
sents a political party. (See Birds.) 

Crying, or Shouting, signifies to proclaim, 
or call attention to something. (See Weeping.) 



74 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritiea. 

Cupid has been seen in dreams upon a white 
horse. He has also been seen performing on the 
trapeze. 

Currycomb has reference to putting busi- 
ness in proper working condition. 

Dancing. — To dream of dancing foreshad- 
ows disappointment, illness, and in connection 
with other unfavorable symbols, signifies death. 
The other unfavorable symbols may consist of 
the unnatural appearance of the dancer, the 
presence of his or her mother, music, or dancing 
at a wedding, etc. 

Darkness. — To dream of being in dark- 
ness signifies inability to perceive or understand 
the matter which is the subject of the dream. A 
person vainly striving to understand a matter, 
or to foresee the future of anything which they 
may feel interested in, will often dream of the 
night-time and darkness, or partial darkness, 
which prevents them from seeing what they most 
desire to see. 

Daughters, occupying their legitimate 
sphere at home, will generally appear in dreams 
literally representing themselves, and any other 
female who is in any manner subject to our con- 
trol or care, will also appear in our dreams in 
the character of a daughter. Also ideas or de- 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 75 

signs not destined to succeed, will be represented 
by a small daughter or other female child. 

The signification will depend much upon 
the capacity occupied by the daughter, for if she 
has ministered to our necessities she may repre- 
sent that which supplies our necessities; but if 
she has been dependent upon us for support, she 
will represent that which is dependent, etc. 

Death represents an inactive and powerless 
condition — inability to act efficiently or effectu- 
ally in the matter which is the subject of the 
dream. The common expressions concerning 
moral or political death, has the same significa- 
tion as the material symbols in dreams and vis- 
ions relating to that subject; therefore, to dream 
of a certain person as dead, or being killed, 
simply signifies that that person (or whomsoever 
he or she may represent) is thwarted or rendered 
inactive or powerless in regard to the matter 
which is the subject of the dream. It signifies 
defeat or disappointment in one's purpose, or the 
loss of one's property or reputation. It also ap- 
plies to great changes in one's condition of life, 
such as marriage, or the adoption of the life of a 
nun or recluse. In such case it typifies the death 
of a certain condition, while at the same time 
the individual is resurrected or born into another 
condition. 



76 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritiea. 

The foregoing definitions in regard to death 
apply correctly to all of the many passages in 
St. John's visions where death is spoken of, but 
in those cases it frequently has reference to classes 
of persons and not to individuals. His vision 
of the slaying of the wicked by the sword of the 
mouth, evidently had reference to the destruction 
of a certain class by their conversion into another 
class. 

The statement in those visions in regard to 
the first and second death, and the first and sec- 
ond resurrection, is reduced within the possibili- 
ties of nature and to common sense principles, 
under this definition. 

I have personally known so many dreams 
in which death scenes appeared, that I have de- 
monstrated the foregoing definitions beyond a 
doubt. 

I have known maiden ladies, just previous 
to marriage, to dream of dying. Such cases are 
similar to the one described by St. John, for in 
the latter case people were converted from igno- 
rance to knowledge in regard to a certain subject, 
while in the former case the life of the maiden 
was ended by being changed into the life of a 
married lady. It was simply the death of a cer- 
tain condition. 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 77 

Physical death is often foreshadowed in 
dreams by hideous-looking robbers, dwarfs, snow 
storms, singing-birds, singing-girls, singing-an- 
gels, flowers of brilliant colors, etc. Previous 
associations of the mind, by occupation or other- 
wise, govern the form of the illustration. A 
sailor is forewarned of death by dreaming of 
falling into the sea and sinking; a countryman 
Avill dream of falling from a bridge into water 
and sinking ; a driver of mules in a mine dreamed 
that his car ran off the track at a certain place, 
and he was killed the next day at that place; 
and a teamster's last words were, in dream lan- 
guage, "whoa," etc. 

Deer. — Deer, and other wild game, when 
seen running from a person, signifies an unsuc- 
cessful pursuit of an object in business ; but if 
captured, or if they stand near, it signifies suc- 
cess in the matter, especially so if the game is a 
buck with long horns. 

Depression of Mind. (See Weeping.) 

Departing. — A symbol object when repre- 
senting a misfortune; its departure represents 
the end of said misfortune ; but when represent- 
ing an enterprise, departure signifies the com- 
mencement of the said enterprise. To which 
case it belongs must be determined by its con- 
nections. 



- 

78 Dr tamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

Derrick. — A derrick with guy ropes was 
-seen representing the telegraphic arrangements 
for the arrest of a criminal. 

Devil. — In the symbolic revelations of 
Scripture in which public matters belonging to 
the world's history are foreshown, the devil is 
the great deceiver, and represents ignorance, for 
we can only be deceived in matters of which we 
are ignorant. But when he is seen in dreams 
which have reference to affairs of private life, he 
foreshadows accidents, illness, or other great 
troubles. 

First Illustration. — King Richard the Third, 
the night preceding the battle of Bosworth Field, 
which terminated his reign and his life, is said 
to have dreamed that devils pulled and hauled 
him about, not suffering him to take any rest. 

Second. — A sailor dreamed that a devil ap- 
peared to him and told him that he had but three 
more days to live ; the next night the dream was 
repeated, giving him but two days. The dream 
was again repeated on the third night, giving but 
one day. At the time appointed for his death 
he fell from the rigging to the deck and was 
killed. 

Third. — A gentleman who was teaching a 
school, and boarding with the writer, dreamed 
that he saw the devil and had a conversation 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 79 

with him. Some comical and ludicrous things 
were said and done in a friendly mood while 
they were together, and shortly after he (the 
teacher) was attacked by severe illness, which 
continued for several weeks. 

Fourth. — The most severe illness ever suf- 
fered by myself was preceded by a dream in 
which I had a quarrel with the devil. I became 
so violent in my language toward him that he 
bid me "good day," and left me. My apparent 
action in the dream and its results, foreshadowed 
my successful efforts for recovery. 

Diamonds. — A diamond has been known 
to represent the character of a reformed drunkard. 

Dishes. — Dining-table dishes in some cases 
represent illness. 

Distance has reference to moral relations. 
That which appears far away will not much con- 
cern us, but we must suffer or enjoy the conse- 
quences of that which appears very near unto us 
in dreams. 

Dogs. — Dogs generally represent persons, 
and the ideas, intentions and diseases of persons. 
The family dog represents our idea of cautious- 
ness in business, or whatever subject the dream 
may have reference to, in which the dog is seen. 
We have known red or brown dogs to represent 
persons of belligerent dispositions ; lean white 



80 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

dogs to represent persons in their last illness ; 
black dogs to represent ignorance, distrust, or 
fear in regard to a certain matter, and also death. 
A poodle dog represents a trait of character, or 
idea, or intention. 

First Illustration. — Immediately previous to 
the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, Maggie 
Mitchell, the actress, dreamed that she saw John 
Wilkes Booth leap from the president's box at 
Ford's theatre. He appeared in a short Spanish 
cloak lined with crimson satin, and as he leaped 
upon the stage his cloak flew open and disclosed 
a white poodle-dog. 

In this case it appears that the white poodle 
dog represented the murderous intent which was 
concealed in the heart of Booth until the deed was 
committed, but was then suddenly exposed to 
public view, as was typified by the sudden expo- 
sure of the dog by the opening of the cloak. 

Second. — Before the birth of St. Bernard his 
mother dreamed that she brought forth a white 
barking dog, and she w r as told by an interpreter 
that she would become the mother of a famous 
preacher, which was fulfilled. 

Third. — One dreamed of being bitten by a 
dog, and he was immediately afterwards cheated 
in a purchase. 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 81 

Mad dogs have reference to belligerent per- 
sons. 

Door. — A closed door represents a barrier 
between different conditions or situations of a 
person in relation to a certain matter. Knock- 
ing at a door represents solicitation to enter an- 
other condition, such as passing from single to 
married life, or any similar change of situation. 
Disease or death in a family is often foreshown 
by the appearance of a woman, thief or robber, 
or negro entering the front door. 

Scenes at the front door of a dwelling has 
reference to matters of the family which will not 
be concealed from the public, including illness or 
death, or good or ill-fortune, or fame, etc. 

Matters of the family, and such business 
matters as are but little known to the public, 
will appear in scenes near the back door. Also 
the change of residence, made necessary by mar- 
riage, is foreshadowed by one leaving from the 
back door. 

An open doorway from one room to another 
represents an unobstructed passage from one sit- 
uation to another. 

The willing acceptance of truth is the open 
door of the heart. 

Door-Bell. — The ringing of the door-bell 
foreshadows news, either good or ill ; often dis- 

6 



82 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

ease or death. When many persons are seen in 
a dream, and only one, or few, recognized, the 
person or persons so recognized (or whomsoever 
they may represent) will be connected with the 
subject of the dream. 

Illustration. — A lady dreamed that some- 
thing had occurred which caused great excitement 
in her neighborhood, and although many persons 
were seen, Mrs. Engelke was the only one who 
was recognized. She came weeping to the door 
of the dreamer's house, and gave the bell two 
distinct jerks. Five days after the dream two 
boys were instantly killed by the falling of a 
bridge. The boys were the sons of Mrs. Engelke. 

Dragon. — A dragon is a monster frequently 
described in St. John's visions. It there repre- 
sented the Roman empire. It also represents any 
oppressive and persecuting government. 

Illustration. — Themistocles, the Athenian 
general and statesman, when political misfortunes 
were pressing him closely, and the chances of 
escape with his life was almost despaired of, 
dreamed that a dragon was coiled round his body, 
and on creeping up his neck and touching his 
face, was turned to an eagle which spread its 
wings over him, and flew away with him to a 
distant place, where he beheld a golden sceptre, 
upon which he rested in security and free from 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 83 

fear. The circumstances of the dream were sup- 
posed to have been typically fulfilled in the es- 
cape of Themistocles from the house, by a 
stratagem of Nicogenes, in the covered carriage 
of a woman, and in his favorable reception by 
Artaxerxes. 

Dragon-Fly. — A dragon-fly represents a 
fatal disease. 

Dress. — (See Clothes.) 

Drinking. — To dream of drinking pure 
water represents the intuitive reception of reli- 
gious truth, but to drink strong liquor, beer, ale 
or milk — anything except pure water — fore- 
shadows deception, loss, or disappointment. 

Drum. — To dream of beating a drum, or 
other article used as a drum, signifies efibrt to 
attract attention. 

Ducks seen upon the water, or to be in pur- 
suit of ducks, has reference to the promulgation 
of some idea or doctrine ; teaching the public. 

Eagles. — An eagle has been adopted as the 
emblem of our government. Eagles also often 
appear in dreams and visions representing gov- 
ernments. 

Illustration. — In the visions of Esdras the 
then future of the monarchial system of govern- 
ment was typically outlined by a great eagle 
with many heads, wings, quills and feathers. The 



84 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

various changes which the several parts of the 
eagle passed through furnishes a typical parallel 
to subsequent history, and an outline for the 
brief future still remaining for that system of 
government. Eagles are not, however, confined 
strictly to the representation of governments, but 
often appear in other illustrations. (See Dragon.) 

Ears have reference to gossip and matters 
much talked of, or written of, and hearing and 
understanding or comprehending a matter. " He 
that hath ears, let him hear." (More properly, 
he that hath understanding, let him understand.) 

Ear-rings, or ear ornaments, represent mu- 
sical accomplishments. 

Earthquakes represent war. 

East. — (See Cardinal Points.) 

Earth. — In Biblical dreams and visions the 
earth, in many cases, represents the lower classes 
of people — the serving classes, while heaven rep- 
resented the ruling or governing classes. But to 
dream of things falling to the earth signifies loss 
or decay. 

To dream of digging in the earth signifies to 
seek earnestly for the undiscovered truth. To 
dream of sinking into soft earth signifies finan- 
cial difficulties, etc. 

Eating. — The definition for eating, like 
that of drinking, depends upon the kind or qual- 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 85 

ity of the substance partaken of. I am very cer- 
tain that to eat prepared food, such as cakes, 
doughnuts, etc., foreshadows disappointment, loss 
or misfortune ; but there may be exceptions in 
regard to fruit when in its natural state. 

First Illustration. — St. John, in a vision, ate 
a book, and it signified the reception of spiritual 
knowledge. Also : " To him that overcometh will 
I give to eat of the hidden manna," etc. This 
undoubtedly has reference to the reception of the 
truths of inspiration, or to be under the influence 
of the spirit. 

Second. — A gentleman writes that he has 
dreamed of crunching glass in his mouth. Glass 
has reference to spiritual matters, and the dream 
undoubtedly had reference to his study of that 
subject. 

Third. — Hamilcar, the Carthagenian gen- 
eral, while besieging Syracuse, dreamed that he 
should sup the next night in that town. Encour- 
aged by the dream he made the assault, was de- 
feated and captured. The dream was fulfilled — 
he supped in the town as a prisoner of war. Had 
he known what is a fact in dream language, viz : 
Eating signifies loss and disappointment, he would 
not have made the attack. 

Fourth. — The learned and ingenious Dr. 
Sterne records of the late Mr. Usher, of Ireland 



86 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritica. 

— a man, he said, of great integrity, dear by his 
merits and his kinsmen, who died on the 8th of 
July, 1657 : "About four o'clock on the previous 
day, a matron, who died a little before, appeared 
to him in his sleep, and invited him to sup with 
her the next night. He at first denied her, but 
she more vehemently pressed her request. He 
at last consented, and on that very night he 
died." 

Eules which are applicable to the case : 

A woman who is distinguished for having 
recently died, represents death. Asking one to 
sup also pointed to some misfortune ; and a cer- 
tain time being appointed to sup, seemed to point 
to the nature of that misfortune, which was 
death. 

Those who are starving and thirsting dream 
of eating and drinking ; and yet this is not in- 
consistent with the definitions of dream language, 
for to dream of eating or drinking (with certain 
exceptions) signifies to suffer. 

Effort. — A successful effort is foreshad- 
owed by apparent success in the dream; but a 
fruitless effort to accomplish our wishes in the 
matter set forth is often foreshadowed by our 
vainly trying to shout or run, or to fail in at- 
tempting to do any other thing. Defeat of our 
purposes is often represented in dreams by meet- 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 87 

ing unexpected obstructions in our way. Either 
success or failure of efforts in dreams should be 
taken as literally true, but should be applied to 
wishes and desires, or work of the mind rather 
than of the hands. 

Eggs. — The gathering or finding of eggs is 
supposed to signify success in some enterprise or 
pursuit, but the condition of the eggs, or what 
was done with them, must, of course, be duly 
considered in the interpretation. 

Illustration. — Cicero relates that a man 
dreamed there was an egg laid under his bed. 
The soothsayer told him that where he imagined 
he saw an egg, there was a treasure ; and in dig- 
ging he discovered silver, and some gold in the 
midst of it; upon which, in testimony of his 
gratitude, he brought some silver to the sooth- 
sayer, who asked him why he did not give him 
some of the yolk (gold) also. 

Elephants. — (See Animals.) 

Elk. — An elk with long horns was known 
to represent a smart thief. 

Embankment. — An embankment repre- 
sents a prescribed course in regard to some cer- 
tain matter of business. 

Emigrants. — I have known the appearance 
of emigrants with wagons to represent the man- 
agement of an election campaign. 



88 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

Enciente. — Many very proper and import- 
ant facts are typically illustrated in dreams by 
that which society regards as vulgar or obscene ; 
but this work would be very incomplete were we 
to omit such things. The material productions 
of the body simply represent the productions of 
the mind in originating and expressing thoughts 
and ideas. Productions and discharges of every 
description, from the bodies of either male or fe- 
male, are shown to illustrate the various forms 
of thoughts, ideas, and the merits which they 
possess. With this explanation the reader or 
dreamer will be enabled to vary the application 
according to the case in hand. 

Illustration. — St. John, in a vision, saw the 
Primitive Christian Church and its prospective 
creed in the character of a woman in travail with 
a male child, etc. 

Engines. — A locomotive engine, or a steam- 
boat, generally has reference to a suit at law, or 
some organized effort in any matter. 

Evening. — (See Hour.) 

Evergreen. — (See Trees.) 

Excitement represents accidents and dis- 
appointments. 

Eyes. — In dreams which have reference to 
the physical system, the eyes have reference to 
the vital principle of life; but there are other 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 89 

dreams in which the eyes represent a claim to 
perceive and understand spiritual things, and a 
ready perception generally. 

Illustration. — The Four Beasts described in 
the Apocalypse, the symbols of the classification 
of religion into four stages, appeared full of eyes 
before and behind, because they represented a 
claim to perceive and to understand spiritual 
things. 

Bright eyes represent a ready perception of 
the matter, while dull eyes represent stupidity in 
regard to the same. 

Face. — The face represents the outward ap- 
pearance of that which is set forth in the dream. 
The direction of the face indicates the direction 
of the mind in regard to the matter which is the 
subject of the dream. Two persons facing in 
opposite directions signify opposite wishes and 
intentions in relation to the matter. A dirty 
face foreshadows illness. Lying with the face 
downward signifies death. Inability to see clear- 
ly the face of a person signifies inability to dis- 
cover the facts in the matter which the person 
may represent. To be wounded in the face 
foreshadows illness, probably fatal. Flushed face 
and wry face signify anger, disagreement, and 
sometimes illness. 



DO Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

Family. — A family may literally represent 
a family, or it may represent a number of per- 
sons who are acting in concert or fraternally in 
the matter which is the subject of the dream, 
such as a society, political party, judicial officers, 
police force, etc. The patrons of a business man 
may appear as his family. 

Father. — A father represents one's pur- 
pose, will, wish or determination. And when he 
appears without physical defect or ailment, or 
without uttering w r ords of reproof, it signifies 
success. This will generally be found correct, 
whether the father be deceased or not. The ex- 
ceptions would appear in cases where the father 
had not filled the usual situation of a father. I 
am aware that one or both parents are some- 
times distinguished for peculiar traits, practices, 
etc., and in such cases they represent that for 
which they are distinguished. I once knew a 
lady who confessed that she and her husband had 
scolding spells, and added that she generally fore- 
knew when they were coming by dreaming of 
seeing her father and mother having such spells. 
The fact was, that it was a peculiar trait with 
her father and mother. Among other exceptions 
we may also state that where a father has exer- 
cised authority over a daughter, and afterward 
her husband exercises the like authority over 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 91 

her, in that case her husband will appear in her 
dreams in the character of her father. So far as 
I have investigated into the experiences of many 
persons, one's father does not appear in good 
health and good condition, and with favorable 
surroundings, to a person in their last illness, or 
when misfortune is impending ; therefore, to the 
sick, a father in good condition signifies recov- 
ery, and in ill condition, death or continued ill- 
ness. 

First Illustration. — In a work by Mrs. Blair 
on " Dreams and Dreaming," we find, among 
many, the narrative of a lady's experience, as 
follows : u When I was about fifteen years old I 
had a fever, and was given up by the doctor, 
when I fell asleep and dreamed that my spirit 
left my body and flew out of the window; but 
soon after they were again united, and I went 
upwards, till I came to a beautiful golden gate, 
which opened, and a man came out of it to me, 
dressed in gold, and asked me if I knew him. I 
said, l No/ He replied, ' I am your father, and 
died when you were two years old/ which was 
the case. I expressed a wish to go through the 
gate along with him. He said I \vas not to go 
then, but I should come afterwards. I awoke, 
asked for a drink, and recovered from that time." 



92 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritica. 

Second. — A young man of previous good 
health, and well known to the writer, was taken 
ill, and after a few weeks partially recovered, but 
remained in delicate health for a considerable 
time, until he experienced another attack of the 
disease, which was more severe than the first. 
The ablest physicians in the city were called to 
attend on him, and all that loving parents could 
do for an idolized son was done for him. But 
after more than half a year of his illness had 
passed, and several weeks of hopeless and weary 
watching day and night by his devoted parents, 
one afternoon he addressed his father and said : 
" Father, I dreamed that I killed you ; I cut 
your throat. I did not want to do it, but it 
seemed that I was obliged to do it." Six hours 
later his body found rest in death. 

The foregoing cases, selected from among 
many others, illustrate the truth of our defini- 
tions in relation to " Father/' 

Father-in-Law and Mother-in-Law 
are often seen in dreams which have reference to 
one's reputation. The father-in-law, if seen 
strong and healthy, represents a good reputa- 
tion ; while the mother-in-law, in like condition, 
represents an ill-reputation. This may require 
the test of additional experience. 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 93 

Fecal. — The fecal discharges of the body 
represent ideas expressed, published or in any 
manner promulgated. 

Feet represent the standing of the matter, 
thing or person which is the object of the dream ; 
therefore they may appear naked, clothed, dirty, 
clean, large, small, or in any other condition 
which will properly represent the case in hand. 

Naked feet represent the exposure of one's 
standing in the matter set forth, and large feet 
represent power and strength in one's position ; 
while clothed or small feet of course represent 
the reverse of what is represented by naked or 
large ones. 

Females. — Female children represent un- 
profitable intentions, erroneous ideas and passive 
evils; but as they advance in years into girl- 
hood or womanhood, they become representative 
of active evils, which if only seen to be looking 
toward you, signify a threatening evil or mis- 
fortune; but should you come in contact with 
them or speak with them, you will not escape 
the impending misfortune. 

Exception. — Females do not always bring or 
signify evil, as appears from the following : 

Illustration. — Tacitus thinks it necessary to 
apologize for relating that Curtius Rufus, when 
attending on a questor who had obtained a de- 



D4 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

partment in Africa, was addressed in the retire- 
ment of a deserted portico at Adrimetum, in the 
midst of the day, by a female figure of supernat- 
ural appearance, who declared to him that he 
should come as consul into that province, which 
afterwards happened agreeable to the prediction. 
The foregoing is not stated as a dream, but such 
appearances are generally governed by the same 
rules. (See Woman.) 

Fences represent the statute laws which 
define the boundaries of human liberty and ac- 
tion ; they also represent lines which mark the 
boundaries which separate religious creeds or 
systems of faith, and limit the action of their ad- 
vocates ; also the by-laws of societies, the lines 
which separate the various occupations, the boun- 
daries of social and marital liberties, etc. Ma- 
terial objects always represent moral, mental or 
spiritual matters or things. 

Fighting. — Physical force represents moral 
or mental force ; therefore, fighting represents a 
moral or mental contest. It may relate to busi- 
ness, health, or other matters. 

A mental or physical effort to overcome any 
difficulty may be represented by a contest with 
man, beast, devil, etc. My attention has been 
called to many cases in which illness has been 
foreshadowed by a dream of a contest with the 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 95 

devil, or with robbers, negroes or animals. Vic- 
tory, in such cases, over the robber or devil, etc., 
signifies ultimate recovery from the illness. 

Fire represents strife, contention or public 
excitement, or agitation upon any subject. 

A dwelling house on fire represents a family 
quarrel, and a barn on fire represents a quarrel 
about property. I have known an old and di- 
lapidated building on fire to represent a church 
revival. I have also known dreams of whirl- 
winds, with fire appearing about their outer 
edges, to represent church revivals and gold 
mine excitements. Any strife or agitation where 
mind contends with mind, may be represented by 
fire. 

A hot fire coal may have reference to a sub- 
ject not wholly exhausted. 

Fish and Fishing. — To dream of fishing 
signifies the pursuit of some object, which may 
consist of wealth, matrimony, or other matter. 
To dream of catching fish signifies success in the 
matter represented. The degree of success will 
be indicated by the size and number of the fish 
caught. To dream of seeing dead fish floating 
about, or fish of white color, or any bright color, 
signifies failure to realize our hopes. To dream 
of catching small fish signifies partial success; 
but minnows represent worthlessness or total 

OSS. 



96 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

We have known a dream of dead fish tied 
to the shore to represent unemployed capital in 
bank. 

The various species of fish probably have 
each a different signification, but we are as yet 
unprepared to define them. 

Fish of enormous size, seen but not captured , 
represent extravagant hopes not realized. Dis- 
abled fish and dressed fish haye been known to 
represent an unprofitable business. Fish some- 
times represent persons ; especially so when the 
object sought is a wife or husband. A large- 
mouthed fish has reference to something sought 
through ideas expressed either verbally or other- 
wise. 

First Illustration. — A woman dreamed that 
a fish had bitten off two of her little boy's fingers. 
Two days later one of his playmates cut off the 
identical fingers of her boy with a hatchet. 

Second. — A clergyman said : " I went to 
hold a revival meeting, and dreamed that I 
went to a hole of water to fish, and I found a 
place by a sycamore root where the ice was 
thawed out and left a circle clear of ice next the 
bank, where I began to fish, and continued until 
I caught eleven sun perch, the whitest I ever 
saw. After that they quit biting, and bait my 
hook as I would I could not induce them to bite 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 97 

any more, when I washed my hands and found 
them to look whiter than ever I saw them. We 
proceeded with the meeting and had eleven ad- 
ditions, and when the brethren found a place to 
baptize them we went to the water, and there we 
found the exact place where I had in my dream 
caught the fish. There I baptized the eleven 
candidates, and coming out of the water I flung 
the water from my hands and saw they were 
whiter than usual, owing to the fact I had been 
wearing yarn gloves that had sweated and 
bleached them." 

Flag. — A flag represents victory or tri- 
umph to the party represented by the bearer. I 
have known a patient's triumph over disease tn 
be represented by a dream of a messenger bear- 
ing a flag to his (the patient's) father. 

Flies or Flying Insects. — I have known 
flying insects to represent gossip and scandal, 
and flies about a carcass to represent scandal and 
the ruin of a reputation. One gentleman, who 
has had much affliction by repeated attacks of 
illness in his family, says the attacks are fore- 
shadowed in his dreams by the appearance of 
flies bunched up together, in his house. 

Flour has reference to business, but so far 
as observed it has not been found to represent 
success. 
7 



be 



98 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 



Flowers. — Beautiful flowers have often 
been observed to be connected with scenes rep- 
resenting death. 

First Illustration. — Experience of Mrs. E. 
Griffith. — u Many years ago I was in Indiana, 
about six miles from Vernon. I dreamed of be- 
ing in Vernon, seeing an old log house, used for 
a workshop at the time. In my dream this old 
large log house was grandly and very beautifully 
decorated with the most lovely flowers. The 
roses were hung in such grand profusion of 
wreaths and festoons — have them in my mem- 
ory, but it is entirely impossible to describe any- 
thing so bright and lovely. There seemed some- 
thing in the light and air too soft and delightful 
to the senses to be described by mortals. And 
in the midst of all the bewildering fragments and 
beauty, there was a little dear neighbor girl of 
Vernon — the child seemed very happy, and 
jumping up here and there, touching the flowers 
and playing with them as she wished. I suppose 
I would not have thought of the dream again, 
but when in Vernon about two weeks after, I 
heard some remarks about the death of this little 
girl." The manner of her appearance in the 
dream had reference to the near approach of her 
death." 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 99 

Second. — Flowers represent death, trees sig- 
nify persons, and beyond a river signifies mat- 
ters beyond the grave ; and in accordance with 
these definitions, just previous to a boiler explo- 
sion in my neighborhood, in which several per- 
sons lost their lives, I dreamed of seeing trees in 
bloom beyond a river. 

Flying. — We have known flying to fore- 
shadow success in business. It also foreshadows 
success in the acqusition of fame or honor. We 
have known floating in the air to foreshadow 
anticipations of honor, fame or wealth. But an 
unfavorable position which one may assume while 
floating in the air, may signify disappointment in 
regard to their anticipations. 

First Illustration. — Notes and Experience of 
W. J. Atkinson. — " I can call to mind the fact 
that when I was dreaming often of flying, I was 
engaged in lecturing and talking to the people ; 
so I believe that flying denotes public speaking, 
and the height and ease by which you fly indi- 
cates the success you will have." (See Air or 
Atmosphere.) 

Foreigners represent foreign governments 
and strangers ; they also represent those who are 
foreign to us in sentiment, belief, feelings, etc. 

Forest. — To dream of being in a forest 



100 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritica. 

foreshadows an unpleasant and disconsolate con- 
dition. 

Fowls. — (See Birds.) 

Friends (or Enemies), when seen and rec- 
ognized in a dream, represent that for which they 
have been mostly distinguished in our minds. 
If the person seen was distinguished for being a 
quarrelsome neighbor, the dream will foreshadow 
a quarrel between neighbors ; or if he is distin- 
guished for success in a certain pursuit, the 
dream will foreshadow success in that pursuit, 
but if the person seen is mostly distinguished in 
the dreamer's mind for having recently died, he 
may foreshadow death, etc. 

Frogs. — Frogs, turtles and other creeping 
things of the water, I have often found connected 
with ideas, theories or creeds, as promulgated to 
the world. St. John foresaw the absurd dogma 
of the trinity in the symbol of three unclean 
spirits, like frogs, etc. (See other illustrations in 
Miscellaneous Dream Experiences.) 

Fruit. — Heaps of apples, seen in good con- 
dition, signify profits in business; and to eat 
apples, and perhaps some other kinds of fruit, 
while it is in its natural state, signifies the recep- 
tion of instruction. 

Funeral. — The symbols which represent 
moral death and physical death are so much 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 101 

alike that it is not always easy to distinguish one 
from the other. A great disappointment or de- 
feat in one's purpose is moral death, and is often 
foreshadowed with all the funeral trappings of a 
real funeral. 

Illustration. — An affianced lady dreamed 
that a member of her father's family had died 
while absent from home, and was brought home 
in a coffin. The dream had reference to the 
dreamer. She suffered moral death in a severe 
disappointment soon after. 

Weddings and funerals also appear much 
alike in dreams, or rather, they are interchange- 
able, either one representing the other. 

Fur. — Hides with fur on have reference to 
spiritual things, and also to sexual love or af- 
finity. 

Gallery. — The unknown future of one's 
life sometimes appears in dreams as a long, dark 
and empty gallery. 

Garden. — Scenes in and about the garden 
represent scenes behind the domestic curtain : 
family secrets, loves, disappointments, etc. 

Gargling. — Ineffectual vocal effort. 

Garment. — (See Clothes.) 

Gathered. — Many people appearing to be 
gathered together signifies many giving attention 
to a subject ; also to be gathered in sentiment or 



102 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

belief, to be of one opinion, but not locally gath- 
ered. There are many ancient prophecies which 
should be construed in accordance with this defi- 
nition. 

Geese. — Flying geese may represent our 
hopes or anticipations. When they fly beyond 
our view it signifies disappointed hopes. To 
capture a fat goose signifies the acquisition of 
property. 

Geological Specimens. — To dream of ex- 
amining geological specimens has reference to 
the study of some deep and profound subject, 
such as the subject of dreams. 

Ghost. — The study of a subject which is 
very difficult to understand, will often appear in 
a dream in the character of a ghost. 

Girls, while in their dependent years, rep- 
resent ideas which are not destined to be success- 
ful, but when above their dependent years, they 
represent evils in regard to health, business, or 
other matters. Singing girls represent dangerous 
or fatal diseases. 

Glass generally has reference to spiritual 
matters, and efforts of the mind in regard to in- 
ventions, new discoveries, etc. Clear glass rep- 
resents spiritual truth. 

St. John foresaw the time when the right- 
eous should stand upon a sea of glass. 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 103 

Gloves, or Mittens, generally have refer- 
ence to matrimony ; but when they do not appear 
upon the hand they only represent prospective 
chances in relation to that matter. Gloves and 
mittens have also, in some cases, been known to 
have reference to the preparation for business. 

Goats represent ignorance and stupidity. 

Going. — Starting, out on a journey, or to 
see persons going from us, signifies the com- 
mencement of a matter corresponding in sub- 
stance to the character of the person so seen ; 
and returning will signify the completion of the 
undertaking. 

Going up hill, or over rough places, or 
among mountains, signifies difficulties, and to go 
down hill, loss or disappointment; but to travel 
over a smooth level plain, signifies success. Go- 
ing rapidly, is haste towards good or ill, as the 
case may be. 

Gold represents the highest quality of moral 
excellence in whatever it is intended to typify. 
Degrees [of excellence are illustrated in Nebu- 
chadnezzar's dream of the great image, by the 
quality of the metal. Gold also represents ex- 
cellence in St. John's visions of crowns of gold, 
and streets paved with gold, etc. In regard to 
the paving of the streets with gold, it of course 
has reference to the condition of society after the 



104 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

proper reforms have been fully established. (See 
Coin.) 

Goods. — Dry goods, and other goods, often 
represent matters of the mind ; and to seem to 
be loaded heavily with such things, signifies 
mental efforts, cares, and responsibilities. 

Grain represents matters relating to busi- 
ness or property, and the quality and kind of 
grain will indicate the degree of success in the 
matter. The question of ownership should be 
duly considered as it appeared in the dream. 

Grass. — Green grass represents the active and 
successful industrial pursuits of the people; but 
dry grass represents the suspension of those pur- 
suits. Burned or burning grasses represent the 
destruction of those pursuits by strife or war. 

In the symbolic forecast of history given in 
St. John's visions, where prosperity is followed 
by desolating wars, green grass and burned grass 
are spoken of. 

Graves and Graveyards generally have 
reference to the defeat of one's purpose, or moral 
death. 

Illustration. — Assisting to fill a grave fore- 
shadowed defeat of one's political party. 

Groups of people often signify classes. 

Gun, Pistol or Revolver, — emblems of 
physical warfare, have reference to moral attacks, 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 105 

either by party, opposition at an election, law- 
suit, scandal, or the like. 

Hail represents persecution. 

Hair. — Pure white hair represents spiritu- 
ality or religious truth ; but hair, other than the 
purest white, represents certain professions and 
beliefs in certain systems of religion, politics, 
the state of health, etc. 

An abundance of hair, like the hair of 
woman, and other than the purest white, repre- 
sents false religion. Attorneys-at-law, when 
seen in dreams, appear with red hair, and priests 
and preachers with long hair of a dirty white, 
for the reason, I suppose, that their creeds are 
not wholly true. Gray hair represents ill-tem- 
per, quarrels, disagreements and ill-feeling. 

Combing hair may sometimes have reference 
to the exercise and practice of one's profession, 
but more frequently it has reference to pecuniary 
loss, ill health, and disappointment; especially 
the latter when the hair falls from the head. 

Hair whitened apparently by age signifies 
the near approach of death. 

Hands. — The hands represent the active 
agents for the accomplishment of* an object or a 
purpose. Two persons joining their right hands 
signifies that the purposes of the two are identi- 
cal in the matter which it refers to : and that 



106 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

purpose may be a matrimonial alliance, a com- 
promise of some difficulty which had previously 
existed between them, the adoption of the same 
belief, or a friendly discussion and agreement 
upon the same subject. 

The left hand represents work, either physi- 
cally, mentally, or morally, which has been done ; 
and the right hand represents such classes of 
work which will be done in future time. 

To dream that the right hand has been cut 
off signifies the deprivation of the power to pro- 
ceed further with the matter which it has refer- 
ence to. 

To be washing the hands, or to have very 
white hands, signifies the riddance of a previous 
difficulty. 

To dream of joining hands with the wife of 
a physician, or with a person deceased, foreshad- 
ows the necessity of attending a funeral. 

The foregoing hints will enable the reader 
to make a proper application of the rule in many 
other cases. 

Illustration. — Stilpo dreamed that he saw 
Neptune expostulating with him for not having 
immolated an ox to him, as was the custom of 
the priests; upon which he remonstrated with 
the deity for coming like a child, to complain to 
him that he had not filled the city with the 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 107 

smoke of an expensive sacrifice, when he had 
done what his circumstances would admit, upon 
which the god extended his hand to him with a 
smile, in proof of approbation, and promised 
that, on his account, he would afford a splendid 
supply of water to the Megarensians. 

Harness. — Whereas a horse represents a 
policy adopted to accomplish a purpose, therefore 
the harness represents the preparation and means 
adopted to carry out that purpose ; and this has 
been corroborated by experiences in dreaming. 

Hat. — (See Clothing.) 

Hawks. — Young hawks have been known 
to represent children. 

Hay. — A load of hay has been known to 
represent property and the general affairs of a 
man in the management of a family. 

Head. — When an organized body of people 
are represented by a living creature, the head of 
the creature represents the central source of 
power; but in the ordinary affairs of individuals 
the head represents the source of moral power. 
When the head appears broad, it signifies more 
than ordinary intelligence; and* a decapitated 
human head, although apparently living, signi- 
fies death. 

Hearing. — To hear signifies to be made 
aware, to understand. The sentence, " He that 



108 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

hath ears to hear, let him hear," signifies the 
same as if we should say, " He that hath under- 
standing, let him understand." 

Heavens signify a position of authority ; 
also the source from whence comes events, men, 
and things. 

First Illustration. — King Cambyses, when in 
Egypt, fancied in his sleep that he saw a mes- 
senger arrive from Persia, who reported to him 
that Smerdis, who had excited his jealousy, being 
seated on the royal throne, had touched the hea- 
vens with his head ; on which he sent one of his 
confidential servants to put him to death, which, 
being effected, gave occasion for the setting up 
of a more formidable rival in a fictitious Smerdis, 
and eventually caused the death of Cambyses. 

Second. — Caligula, the day preceding his 
death, dreamed that he was standing in heaven, 
near the throne of Jupiter, who gave him a push 
with the great toe of his right foot, upon which 
he fell headlong upon the earth. 

Third. — Attia, the mother of Augustus, on 
the day before her delivery, dreamed that her 
bowels were carried up as high as heaven, and 
thence spread out to cover the earth. 

Fourth. — Cicero saw, in a dream, Octavi- 
anus let down from heaven in a golden chair. 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 109 

Hens, and like domestic fowls, have refer- 
ence to diseases, domestic matters, and the com- 
mon cares of life. 

High Places. — To dream of climbing suc- 
cessfully is good, but to dream of being up-stairs 
or on a high ladder, or on anything high above 
the ground (except ballooning, flying and swing- 
ing on ropes), is evil, and signifies danger. 

Hogs. — (See Animals.) 

Home. — Going from or returning to one's 
home signifies, respectively, commencing or com- 
pleting an undertaking, and returning sometimes 
signifies to abandon an enterprise which we 
have been engag3d in. To dream of being 
absent from home also foreshadows an unhappy 
or unsatisfactory condition of mind. The end 
of life's journey, lite ordinary enterprises, is fore- 
shadowed by a dream of returning to one's home. 

First Illustration. — Petrarch dreamed of see- 
ing the Bishop of Lombs, and that they conversed 
together, and the Bishop said, " I have bid adieu 
to this barbarous country, and am returning ta 
Rome." Petrarch afterwards learned that the 
Bishop died about the time the dream occurred. 

Second. — Aristotle relates that Eudernius, a 
Cyprian and his friend, on arriving at Phsecas, a 
noble city of Thessaly, on his way to Macedonia,, 
oppressed under the tyranny of Alexander, was 



110 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

taken so ill that all the physicians despaired of 
his recovery, when he saw in his sleep a beautiful 
youth who assured him that he would soon re- 
cover, and that Alexander would die in a few 
days, and Eudemius return home five years af- 
ter ; that it immediately happened that Eudemius 
recovered and Alexander died ; and that toward 
the conclusion of the fifth year, when Eudemius 
began to hope, on the encouragement of his 
dream, to return from Sicily to Cyprus, he fell 
in battle at Syracuse; when, for the verification 
of the whole of the dream, it was interpreted that 
the soul, on parting from the body, must be un- 
derstood to return to its native place. 

The foregoing dream was one part literal 
and another part symbolical, and the dreamer 
was misled by construing it all literally ; and in- 
terpreters, after his death, were also mistaken in 
supposing that the soul must return to its native 
place. 

Their error consisted in not knowing that 
in dream language life's journey, like other jour- 
neys, ended by typically returning home. 

Third. — Some philosophers have rejected all 
divination as dubious and fallacious, yet have 
admitted of prophecy by inspired persons. In 
favor of the latter, we have the authorities of 
Socrates, Plato, Xenophon and Aristotle. When 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. Ill 

Socrates was in prison, Crito went to pay him a 
visit, and told him he was informed, by persons 
come from sea, that the ship Delos would return 
to Athens that day ; the consequence of which 
was, that Socrates would be put to death on the 
morrow. " Be it so," said Socrates, "if that 
pleases the gods ; yet I think the ship will not 
be here to-day, but to-morrow." "Why so," 
dear friend ?" asked Crito. " Because this night 
a woman of beauty and majestic form, clothed in 
a white robe, appeared to me in a dream, and, 
calling me by name, said, ' The third day shall 
land thee safe at fruitful Phthia.' " (They are the 
words of Achilles, in Homer, when he proposed 
to return home.) Socrates took it for a predic- 
tion of his death, because he judged that to die 
was to go home to his own country ; and his 
dream was fulfilled. 

Hope. — In a dream we may be highly 
elated with hopes or prospects in business or 
other matters. That signifies that we will have 
such hopes in our waking state ; and yet those 
hopes may never be realized. In that case the 
dream is merely a foreshadowing of a state of 
mind. The same rule may be applied to fear. 

Horns. — Whereas a beast represents an or- 
ganized body of people, in the form of a govern- 
ment, church, institution or society, therefore the 



112 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritiea. 

horns of those symbol beasts represent the offen- 
sive and defensive instruments of those organi- 
zations. 

The foregoing definition is applicable to 
Daniel's and St. John's visions where horns are 
spoken of, as well as to modern dreams. 

There are also cases in which cattle and 
wild horned animals represent land speculations 
or other business matters, and in that case the 
horns have reference to ability in regard to the 
subject of the dream, and if large, signify suc- 
cess in the matter. 

Horses. — From time immemorial the horse 
has been a familiar object to man, and therefore 
he plays an important part in man's symbolic 
dreams. 

A horse represents the policy or programme 
which a person has determined to pursue in re- 
gard to any certain matter. When a person ap- 
pears unable to control the movements of the 
horse, he will be unable to control the policy, 
object or programme which the horse represents. 

To dream of being on horseback and about 
to start on a journey, represents a new enterprise 
which we will soon undertake or have in con- 
templation. 

To dream of driving one horse attached to 
a buggy represents a small or single-handed en- 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 113 

terprise. It also represents life's journey while 
in the unmarried state. 

Driving two horses attached to a wagon rep- 
resents the management of business. Also the 
management of the general affairs of a family. 
White horses driven by women represent a fu- 
neral. A white horse with male rider represents 
the millenial policy of truth and purity in regard 
to government and religion. St. John saw the 
rider of a white horse slaying the wicked with a 
sword, and the sword proceeded out of his mouth. 
It, of course, had reference to the wicked das*, 
which will be destroyed by being converted to a 
different class by new evidence of truth, which 
is represented by the sword of the mouth. But 
the individuals will not be slain by such a sword. 

A red horse with rider represents a belliger- 
ent policy which includes the contests of either 
mental or physical forces, and especially the 
scenes on the battle-field. 

A black horse with rider represents a policy 
for the destruction of the moral and intellectual 
light of the world, both temporal and spiritual, 
and the inauguration of a reign of error and 
wrong-doing, such as occurred during the " dark 
ages." 

A pale horse with rider represents pestilence, 

8 



11.4 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritica. 

famine, and all the horrors which follow in the 
train of the red and black horses with riders. 

A stallion represents licentious practices. 

A gray horse represents matters wherein 
there will be contention and ill-feeling between 
parties. Also grief or disappointment. 

Boys on horseback often represent inten- 
tions in regard to new enterprises. 

Horses in herds, running, represent reck- 
lessness. White horses have been known to have 
reference to death, religion, love or law, accord- 
ing to the accompanying symbols. A horse 
standing in water signifies business difficulties. 

Illustration. A lady dreamed that she saw 
a man riding a gray horse. He came rapidly 
past her and threw a package to her. The fol- 
lowing day she received a telegram announcing 
the sudden death of her uncle. 

Hotel. — A hotel, inn or tavern has refer- 
ence to matters in which there will be dealings 
with the public. 

Hour. — In dreams a certain hour, or time, 
is sometimes indicated by the sun, clock, watch, 
or other means. It has reference to the stage of 
the matter which is the subject of the dream. 
The night-time represents the uncertain stage of 
a matter, when we cannot foresee the result; but 
the morning light represents the end of the un- 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 115 

certain stage, when the good or ill result is no 
longer concealed. 

The approach of evening may also represent 
the approaching end of life's journey. 

House. — A dwelling house represents a fam- 
ily ; the main walls of it represent the chief mem- 
bers of the family ; the several rooms represent 
their chief occupants; the cellar, or basement, 
represents the foundation of the family organiza- 
tion. 

A large house with marble walls represents 
judicial matters. A house with glass walls rep- 
resents spiritual matters. 

The exceptions in regard to a dwelling house 
consists of certain organizations where a number 
of persons act in concert, like a family, to ac- 
complish a definite purpose; such, for example, 
as the judicial system ; consequently proceedings 
in law are sometimes represented by scenes in a 
dwelling house. 

A court house or other public building rep- 
resents matters relating to the business done in 
such buildings. A church edifice represents mat- 
ters relating to the organized church ; but there 
are cases in which, to see a church edifice, has 
reference to a funeral. 

An old dilapidated mill, or other building 



116 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

in like condition, represents a failing business 
in which there will be loss. 

A house, other than a dwelling, frequently 
represents an organized system of business, or 
situation, or condition in regard to business or 
other matters ; consequently to dream of passing 
through doors, or from one room to another, rep- 
resents changing situations in regard to the mat- 
ter which is the subject of the dream. 

People who are passing through the ups and 
downs of life, and the shifting scenes of business, 
may recall to mind many dreams of passing 
through doors from one room to another. 

A postoffice building represents correspond- 
ence. A millinery shop, occupied by women, 
represents a business in which there will be losses 
and disappointments. To enter a stable signifies 
entering upon a policy or determination in regard 
to a certain matter. 

To dream of entering a railroad building 
represents entering into proceedings of law, or 
the like of it. 

A dwelling house on fire represents strife in 
or relating to a family. Falling of plastering 
signifies ill-feeling between members of the fam- 
ily. The falling of a wall, or to plaster with 
black mortar, signifies the death of a member. 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 117 

Business matters well done in any depart- 
ment of one's affairs, may be represented by or- 
derly housekeeping; but if ill done, will be 
represented by disorderly housekeeping. 

To dream of being in a house which is con- 
spicuous for its size, either large or small, will 
indicate the relative extent of our fame, either 
good or ill, in regard to the matter which is the 
subject of the dream. 

First Illustration. — Dream Experience of Mrs. 
Griffith. " About twenty years ago I resided at 
Indianapolis, Indiana. My mother's home was 
in Iowa. I dreamed that my mother had a new 
house. I seemed to stand outside of the house, 
looking in. There was no furniture, and the 
house was exceedingly clean. I remarked to 
some one of the family that stood near that it was 
the best house mother ever had. I very soon 
received a letter with the news of mother's 
death." 

Second. — While Lord Bacon was in London 
his father was dying in Paris. The former, just 
before the decease of his sire, dreamed that his 
house was plastered all over with black mortar. 

Third. — A maid servant, who resided many 
years in a distinguished family in Edinburgh, 
was repeatedly warned of the approaching death 
of certain members of that family by dreaming 



118 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritica. 

that one of the walls had fallen. Shortly before, 
the head of the family sickened and died. She 
said she had dreamed that the main wall had fal- 
len. Night Side of Nature. 

Fourth. — A gentleman who had been a short 
time visiting Edinburgh was troubled with a 
cough, which, though it occasioned him no alarm, 
he resolved to go home and nurse. On the first 
night of his arrival he dreamed that one-half of 
the house was blown away. His bailiff, who re- 
sided at a distance, dreamed the same dream on 
the same night. The gentleman died within a 
few weeks. " — Ibid. 

Fifth. — A gentleman, well known to the 
writer, very recently dreamed that his house had 
fallen down, and that parts of it lay strewn around 
in confusion. A few days later his wife had a 
severe attack of rheumatism, and his housekeep- 
ing affairs were thereby thrown in great disorder 
and confusion. 

Husband. — A husband often appears in the 
character of a father in a wife's dreams. 

Hyeroglyphics have reference to a sub- 
ject which is very difficult to comprehend. 

Ice. — To dream of seeing ice or snow along 
our way has reference to difficulties more or less 
serious, and to stand upon ice signifies a danger- 
ous standing financially. 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 119 

Ideas, Opinions, or Conclusions, either 
true or false, appear alike in forming a basis for 
the foreshadowing of events. This fact is very 
conspicuous in ancient revelations, especially so 
in St. John's illustrations of Death, Hell, Lake 
of Fire, and Brimstone and Resurrection ; or, in 
other words, erroneous ideas are taken without 
correction as a basis for the illustration of truth. 

Idiots represent incapacity or acts of folly. 

Implements of Labors — Material things 
represent mental and spiritual things ; therefore 
implements of labor represent the methods and 
means for the accomplishment of the work of the 
mind, but implements of labor seen with a per- 
son in a dream sometimes literally represent the 
occupation of the person who is the subject of the 
dream, and thereby furnishes a clue to the inter- 
pretation. 

Indians, Negroes and Foreigners rep- 
resent enemies, opponents, critics, and unconge- 
nial persons, and sometimes diseases; disease 
being most frequently represented by negroes. 
But the peculiar ideas of the waking mind of 
some persons in regard to indians and negroes, 
will cause some exceptions to the foregoing rules 
in their dreams. 

Insane. — A very enthusiastic effort in any 



1 20 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirooritica. 

cause may be foreshadowed by the person who is 
the actor appearing to be insane. 

Insects. — Flying insects represent gossip 
and scandal. Spiders and many other creeping 
insects represent family jars. 

III. — One appearing ill signifies moral de- 
feat of the person so seen, or whomsoever he or 
she may represent in the subject of the dream. 

Iron represents strength. 

Island has reference to an isolated or de- 
tached government. 

Jewelry has reference to educational ac- 
complishments or trained acquirements. Ear 
ornaments have reference to instrumental music. 
Other ornaments, such as lockets, may have ref- 
erence to vocal music or other acquirements. 

Journey. — A journey may have reference 
to the journey of life or any business enterprise. 
When it has reference to the journey of life, to 
return home means death ; but when it has ref- 
erence to a business enterprise, the return home 
signifies the accomplishment of the object or the 
ending of the enterprise, and if old places were 
seen on the way the enterprise will not be suc- 
cessful. 

Joy or Grief, in dreams, foreshadow cause 
for its literal fulfillment; consequently the state 
of mind in the dream, or immediately on awak- 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 121 

ening, will enable us to determine whether the 
dream foreshadows good or evil. 

Judge. — A judge does not always represent 
law matters, but sometimes represents a literary 
critic, or judge of any other matter. 

Keys. — Keys have reference to hidden and 
undeveloped and unknown things. 

First Illustration. — Columbus dreamed that 
a voice said to him, " God will give thee the keys 
of the gates of the ocean," and it was fulfilled in 
the discovery of America. 

Second. — The teaching of Mohammed was 
the key which opened the bottomless pit and let 
out the typical smoke. 

Third. — There was an angel who had an- 
other key to the bottomless pit, and he put Satan 
in there and locked him in. That key was the 
key of knowledge. Mohammed's key was only 
used for opening the pit, and the other key was 
only used for closing it. 

Killing. — To dream of killing a person 
signifies to defeat, disappoint, or render power- 
less said person, or whomsoever he or she may 
represent in the matter which is the subject of 
the dream. 

Kingdom. — A kingdom represents the pre- 
vailing sentiment with regard to government or 
religion. 



122 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

Kissing represents verbal agreement in sen- 
timent expressed by two persons, and may refer 
to business or other matters. 

Kitchen. — A kitchen represents its chief 
occupant. 

Ladder. — (See High Places.) 

Ladies of style represent the false and fash- 
ionable world, and trifling and thoughtless mat- 
ters. (See Women.) 

Lambs. — The practice of sacrificing lambs 
in ancient times had its effect in moulding the 
symbols of their dreams and visions; conse- 
quently a lamb then represented the spirit of 
God, because the sacrifice was supposed to bring 
them into communion with it; but our collection 
of modern experiences are not sufficient to ena- 
ble us to give a positive definition, but we be- 
lieve it signifies innocence and an object of 
affection. 

Lamps. — All teaching of moral, spiritual or 
intellectual ideas, whether by societies, institu- 
tions, or individuals, are represented in dreams 
and visions by lamps, candles, or other natural 
light. Many ancient dreams and visions give 
illustrations of this. (See Candles and Can- 
dlesticks.) 

Landscape. — A level and fine appearing 
landscape represents a happy situation ; the oppo- 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 1 23 

site of that is represented by hills and rough 
places. A widely extended landscape view rep- 
resents contemplation and a comprehensive view 
of the subject represented. 

Lane. — A long, dark lane often represents 
the future of one's life, or the future of any mat- 
ter which may be the subject of the dream ; the 
darkness having reference to inability to foresee 
the future of the matter. 

Laughing. — To dream of laughing portends 
joy, satisfaction, gladness, or pleasant news. 
There is, however, in dreams, as well as in the 
waking state, a laugh which represents the ludi- 
crous and absurd, or an expression of contempt. 

A person seen in a dream who is a symbol 
of evil, when seen to laugh, represents the tri- 
umph of evil. The case is reversed when the 
symbol represents good. 

Laurels. — (See Wreath.) 

Legs represent the moral support or stand- 
ing in the matter referred to in the dream. If 
one's legs appear nude, his standing in the mat- 
ter will be known to the public ; and if dirty r . 
unfavorably known. 

A lame or broken leg represents defeat to 
the person in the matter which is the subject of 
the dream. 



124 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritica. 

Letters. — To dream of receiving a letter 
foreshadows the reception of instruction or im- 
portant news. To a pupil, promotion in class. 

Lice foreshadows illness. 

Life. — The life of an individual has been 
typified by a journey, as previously stated ; and 
the work of one's life has been illustrated in a 
dream by a field of grain and weeds of unequal 
growth, shading off to barrenness in the centre, 
where the grave appeared. Time, in the charac- 
ter of a man, with his scythe, was going his 
rounds on the outer circumference, etc. 

Light, seen in its various degrees of power, 
has reference to intellectual light, or the light of 
knowledge. (See Darkness.) 

Lightning represents contests on the bat- 
tle field, and political contests at the polls. 

During the last days of October, in the year 
1880, a gentleman who felt considerable interest 
in the political contest which was then exciting 
the people of the United States, dreamed that a 
tree was struck by lightning, and that the shock 
was so great his hair was loosened and fell off. 

Illustration. — A few days after the reception 
of the foregoing dream it was fulfilled by the de- 
feat of the dreamer's political party at the presi- 
dential election. 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 125- 

Likeness. — To dream of having a likeness 
or picture taken may have reference to various 
matters or things ; but with a wife it most fre- 
quently has reference to maternity. 

Lions represent power or strength , either 
physically or mentally, and ferocity ; but a roar- 
ing lion has reference to either individual or 
organized human power, exercised vocally, or by 
edicts, orders or proclamations. (See Animals.) 
Illustration. — Agarista, the mother of Pericles, 
a very distinguished statesman of ancient Greece, 
dreamed before his birth that she was delivered 
of a lion. 

Literal. — Some parts of prophetic dreams 
may occur literally as seen in the dream, and 
sometimes individuals seen in such dreams are 
literally the same persons which they appear to 
be, but more frequently they are symbols repre- 
senting other persons, matters, or things. The 
things seen literally in connection with persons 
often indicate the occupation of said persons. 
Such was the case in the dream of Pharoah's 
baker, whose execution was foreshown by the 
appearance of birds eating from the basket of 
bread which was upon his head. 

" Crow's Night-side of Nature " also relates 
a case in which a proposal of marriage to a lady 
by a baker was foreshown to her in a dream by 



126 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

a man appearing with a basket of bread and 
presenting her with a ring. 

Effort, anxiety, good or ill impressions ex- 
perienced in a dream, must be taken literally ; 
and words heard in dreams are sometimes liter- 
ally prophetic, but more frequently they are the 
intrusions of the waking thoughts, and wholly 
irrelevant to the subject set forth in the dream. 
But in such cases the conversation or words 
spoken signify action in the matter. 

An interpreter is liable to be misled by con- 
founding the literal with the symbolical parts of 
a dream. 

Gerald Massey, in a lecture reported May 
17th, 1872, says: " On awakening up at seven 
o'clock my wife informed me that my mother 
was dead. I asked what she knew. She said 
she had seen in a dream the black-edged envelope 
put under the bedroom door. At eight o'clock 
the veritable letter came/' 

Locality. — Old places, previously known^ 
represent misfortune. New or strange places 
represent a situation never before experienced ; 
rough or steep places, up hill or down, often have 
reference to business difficulties ; high places on 
ladders or buildings, signify financial dangers or 
difficulties; matters or scenes which appear upon 
the public highways have reference to matters 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 127 

which are not concealed from the public, and 
scenes which appear in the garden or back yard 
of a residence have reference to matters of 
the family, such as the feelings or conduct of 
different members of the family toward each 
other. 

Locked, tied, or in any manner deprived of 
liberty, has reference to moral restraints, which 
may be imposed by writing or in any other man- 
ner. (See Keys.) 

Locket. — (See Jewelry.) 

Locomotive. — (See Engine.) 

Locusts, when seen in large numbers, rep- 
resent an army of soldiers. 

Sawlogs have been seen in connection with 
matters which have turned out ill. 

Loins have reference to lineage. 

Illustration. — Justus, a patrician Roman in 
the reign of Constantius, dreamed that the pur- 
ple issued from his loins. The report of the 
dream, it is said, excited the jealousy of Con- 
stantius, and provoked the emperor to put him 
to death ; but his only daughter, Justinia, a 
beautiful and modest girl, being seen in the bath 
by Severa Augusta, and made her attendant, and 
being commended to Valentinian, so engaged his 
affections, that he obtained a law to marry her, 



128 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

and made her joint partner of the empire with 
his empress. Thus the dream was fulfilled. 

Looking. — To dream of earnestly looking 
at something, signifies effort to perceive and un- 
derstand some certain matter. 

Lost. — To dream of being lost in a forest or 
elsewhere, signifies disappointment, or a very 
complicated state of business. 

Lumber has often been found connected 
with profits in business ; but as goes the lumber 
seen, either ill or well, so goes the profits of the 
business. (See Wood.) 

Machinery. — Whereas a building repre- 
sents an organized system by which political, re- 
ligious, financial or other matters are conducted, 
therefore machinery, seen in a building and ar- 
ranged in working order, represents the various 
methods by which the objects sought are obtained 
or accomplished. If the dream has reference to 
political matters, the machinery may represent 
either the executive, judicial, electoral, or any 
other or all departments of the government, or it 
may represent the organization of a political cam- 
paign. But if the dream has reference to organ- 
ized systems of religion, the machinery may rep- 
resent either their Sabbath schools, missionary 
system, or other methods of proselyting or col- 
lecting revenue. And in financial matters, ma- 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 129 

chinery arranged as described in the foregoing 
would represent methods of conducting business, 
etc. 

Man. — The almost unlimited range of situ- 
ations occupied by mankind, and their social and 
gregarious habits, fit them for the widest range 
of representation in dream language, because, as 
stated in Rule 6th, the most familiar objects con- 
stitute the chief part in the symbolic representa- 
tions. 

Man and Woman, when seen in dreams, and 
not distinguished by any peculiarity, represent 
respectively Good and Evil; but when distin- 
guished by profession, occupation, trait of char- 
acter, relationship, or other peculiarity, then said 
peculiarity becomes the ruling element in the 
symbol. Ezample : A person who dreams of 
seeing and speaking with an attorney or physician, 
will be obliged to have dealings with one of the 
class so seen and spoken with. And if a man 
distinguished for either success or misfortune, or 
ill trait of character, is seen and conversed with, 
the dreamer will enjoy or suffer in a manner 
peculiar to the person so seen. 

Tall men represent persons distinguished 
for great intellectual abilities, or for official 
authority. Large or heavy men represent per- 
sons having power and ability in the matter 

9 



130 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritica. 

which is the subject of the dream. Worthless 
vagabonds represent worthlessness in the matter 
which the dream refers to. 

In connection with the foregoing, we must 
ever bear in mind that to dream of seeing does 
not imply the suffering or enjoying by the dreamer 
of that which the symbol represents, but merely 
signifies that his attention will be called to those 
matters; but if there appears to be conversation, 
or physical contact, there will certainly be ac- 
tion in the matter represented. 

Any person acting in more than one capacity 
in a certain matter, may appear in a dream re- 
lating to that matter as more than one person. 
Our diseases and traits of character often assume 
the forms of persons, and attend us as companions 
in our dreams. 

The good or ill foreshadowed by persons is 
modified or intensified by the persons appearing 
ill or well, laughing or weeping, etc., for the 
size, force, vigor or condition of the symbol 
always indicates the magnitude and force of the 
matter represented. 

A man sometimes represents the article 
which he deals in. 

To dream of conversing with a man distin- 
guished for success in real estate speculations, 
signifies that you will soon make a good pur- 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 131 

chase or sale of real estate. But woe to the man 
who dreams of conversing with a man distin- 
guished for failure and bankruptcy, for such will 
soon be the fate of such a dreamer. 

The foregoing hints will enable the reader 
to make the true application of the rule in all 
similar cases. 

Young men represent enterprises or journeys 
destined to be successful. A tramp or robber 
represents disease, and a deformed dwarf repre- 
sents death. 

Broad-faced men represent success. A pale- 
faced person, agreement. A red, flushed face, 
opposition or disagreement. Rough men repre- 
sent mean men. (See Profession.) 

Marble. — (See House.) 

Market-place represents some public mat- 
ter. 

Marriage. — By marriage people pass from 
one condition of life to another; and in like 
manner, by the change called Death, they also 
pass from one condition of life to another. One 
is typical of the other, and is so recognized by 
the powers which construct the language of the 
spiritual world. This fact has been so frequently 
and so plainly set forth in the common experi- 
ence of the people, that it has become proverbial 
that to dream of a wedding or marriage fore- 



132 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

shadows a death or funeral, and vice versa, to 
dream of a funeral foreshadows a wedding. They 
are interchangeable; neither one representing 
itself, but each representing the other. 

The foregoing definition corresponds with 
that previously given of Death, for the wedded 
parties die with reference to their previous con- 
dition, and are resurrected into a new condition. 

Masks. — Persons seen with masked faces 
represent masked characters, or those whose mo- 
tives are unknown in regard to the subject of the 
dream. 

Meal-table. — (See Eating.) 

Measuring of length sometimes represent 
duration of time, or the counting of specific sums 
of money. 

Meat. — To dream of meat has reference to 
business, and its true signification has not been 
sufficiently tested ; but I have never found it 
connected with profitable business. 

Mechanic. — Material things represent men- 
tal and spiritual things ; therefore, a builder 
working in his shop may represent one who is 
endeavoring to teach or establish moral or intel- 
lectual principles, such as an author or the like. 

Medicine. — Bottles of medicine represent 
ideas and theories advanced for the cure of the 
moral ills of the world. 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 133 

Metal represents moral worth in propor- 
tion to its value. 

Mice.— AVhite mice sometimes represent 
diseases ; and I have also known a mouse to 
represent a housekeeper. 

Milk. — Drinking milk foreshadows loss or 
disappointment, and the skimming of milk has 
been observed in connection with one's last 
illness. 

Millinery and fancy goods represent that 
which is false and unprofitable. To dream of 
entering a millinery shop signifies entering into 
a very unprofitable situation, and where there 
will be pecuniary losses. 

Mills for the manufacture of cloth, or any 
other article, are often seen in dreams, represent- 
ing a business firm or scheme in which there is 
dealings with the public. However, I knew a 
case in which a paper mill represented a school 
for the teaching of music. I also knew a case in 
which efforts in building a mill and mill-dam 
represented mental efforts in endeavoring to es- 
tablish a system of philosophy upon a certain 
subject. (See Building.) 

Mink. — (See Animals.) 

Minnows. — (See Fish.) 

Mittens sometimes have reference to busi- 
ness. I observed one case in which the putting 



134 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

on of new buckskin mittens signified the com- 
mencement of a new business. 

Money. — To dream of having gold coin 
foreshadows success by the acquisition of money 
or property ; and the larger the amount, the 
greater will be the success. Silver coin repre- 
sents success in a lesser degree. Copper coin 
represents worthlessness. Paper money repre- 
sents business on paper, and prospects or hopes 
of success, which are not always realized. Defi- 
nite sums, as seen or stated in dreams, are very 
seldom found to be literally true. (See Coin.) 

Monster. — A terrible monster represented 
a failing business. 

Monuments or Columns have reference to 
long established customs, systems of practice, 
religious creeds, or honors to individuals. 

Moon. — The moon has various significa- 
tions. It represents government ; also, the lit- 
erary and scientific, or secular, light of the world, 
and sometimes the individual who diffuses that 
light. It again represents a mother. 

First Illustration, in which the moon has 
reference to government : Ertucules thus ad- 
dressed Edebales: "I dreamed, venerable sir, 
that the brightness of the moon did proceed from 
your bosom, and thence afterwards did pass into 
mine. When it was thither come, there sprang 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 135 

up a tree from my body, which overshadowed at 
once many nations, mountains and valleys. From 
the root of this tree there issued waters sufficient 
to irrigate vines and gardens." 

Edebales replied to Ertucules, saying : 
" There will be born unto you, my good friend, 
a son whose name shall be Osman. He shall 
wage many wars, shall acquire to himself victory 
and glory, and your posterity shall be lords and 
kings of many nations ; but my daughter must 
be married to your son Osman, and she is the 
brightness which you saw come from my bosom 
into yours, and from both sprung up the tree." 

Second, in which the moon represents the 
literary and scientific light of the world. Ed- 
giva, the mother of Adelstan, by Edward, King 
of Mercia, was predisposed to surrender herself 
to the King, by dreaming that a moon ascended 
from her, which, by its splendor, enlightened all 
England. This was fulfilled in the great literary 
fame of her son. 

Ihird, in which the moon represents a 
mother. Our readers are undoubtedly familiar 
with the narrative of Joseph's dream, in which 
the sun, moon and stars represented, respectively, 
father, mother and brothers ; the moon repre- 
senting the mother. 



136 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

Fourth, very similar to the preceding one, is 
found in the life of the Eev. John Flavel. It 
occurred in the time of the great contagion in 
1665. His parents were in London, and many 
letters he sent to them, and many hearty prayers 
to heaven for them ; but about a fortnight before 
they were infected he fell, about break of day, 
into this dream : That he was in a great inn, full 
of company, and, being very desirous to find a 
private room, where he might seek God for his 
parents' life, he went from room to room, but 
found company in them all. At last, casting his 
eye into a little chamber which was empty, lie 
went into it, locked the door, and kneeled down 
by the outside of the bed, fixing his eye upon 
the plastered wall withinside the bed (yet in his 
dream) ; and, while he was vehemently begging 
of God the life of his friends, there appeared 
upon the plastered wall before him the sun and 
moon, shining in their full strength. The sight 
at first amazed and discomposed him so far that 
he could not continue his prayer, but kept his 
eye fixed upon the body of the sun. At last a 
small line, or ring of black, circled the sun, 
which, increasing sensibly, eclipsed, in a little 
time, the whole body of it, and turned it into a 
blackish color, which done, the figure of the sun 
was immediately changed into a perfect death's 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined, 137 

head, and, after a little while, vanished away ; 
the moon still shining as before ; but, while he 
intently beheld it, it also darkened in like man- 
ner, and turned into another death's head, and 
vanished. 

The death of his father and mother occurred 
respectively in the same order as typified by the 
sun and moon ; his father that day fortnight, and 
his mother a month later. 

Morning. — (See Hour.) 

Mother. — One about to become a mother 
will sometimes dream of seeing her own mother; 
but the appearance of a mother in a dream more 
frequently foreshadows loss, misfortune, disease 
or death. 

Persons nigh unto death, from disease or 
other cause, often have dreams or visions of see- 
ing their mother in active life and health, whether 
she be deceased or not ; but never do they, in 
such case, see their father in such like surround- 
ings. 

First Illustration. — " The vision of Armand 
Carrel" in the Revue Spirite merits attention. 
In 1841, while the distinguished French orator, 
Jules Favre, was defending the cause of the mes- 
merists, who were likely to be found guilty of 
jugglery, he took occasion to relate the follow- 
ing : Having dined one day with Mons. Armand 



138 Dreamer's Teacher nad Oneirocritica. 

Carrel, the liberal, learned, chevaleresque gentle- 
man, an animated conversation ensued, when 
suddenly Mons. CarrePs brows contracted and a 
shadow of distress seemed passing over his bril- 
liant intellect. Being asked the cause, he said 
that on the preceding night, awakening suddenly 
from his sleep, he saw before him an apparition 
in deep mourning. He recognized it as that of 
his mother, who lived in Rouen. Breathless, he 
cried: " It is you, mother? Why do you wear 
mourning? Is father dead?" The voice re- 
plied : " It is for you, my son, that I wear this 
garb of grief;" and the shadow vanished. That 
day he challenged the editor of the Press, who 
had gravely insulted him, was mortally wounded 
and died five days afterwards. I may add that 
on the departure of the sombre figure, he had 
hastened to the chamber of Mme. Carrel, whom 
he found trembling and crying bitterly, for she, 
too, had had an ill vision. — London Spiritualist. 

Second. — When Rollo the Dane, being de- 
feated by Alfred, had left England, his brother- 
in-law was admonished by his mother, in a 
dream, not to engage in his cause ; but persist- 
ing, he was killed. 

Third. — Walter Barrie, being about to un- 
dertake a military expedition, was warned in a 
dream by his mother-in-law, then dead, to for- 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 130 

bear the journey ; but persisting, he was killed 
on the day that he set off. 

The last preceding case is of a mother-in- 
law; but the signification appears to be very 
similar to that of a mother. I have, however^ 
observed that a mother-in-law is more generally 
found having reference to misfortunes relating to 
one's character or reputation. 

Mountain. — In biblical dreams mountains 
represented governments and churches. Mount 
Zion represented the Millennial Church. In 
some more recent dreams I have observed its 
proper application to other systems of faith and 
philosophy. 

A mountain also represents a position for 
observing distant objects. 

Mouth. — That which passes out of the 
mouth has reference to mandatory or legislative 
edicts, or to something said. Spitting signifies 
something expressed. The final conversion of 
the world to truth (whatever that may be) was 
shown to St. John through the symbol of a- 
sword, which proceeded out of the mouth of him 
who sat on the white horse. The saying of that 
which we afterwards regret is often foreshadowed 
by dreaming of spitting filth out of our mouth. 
Blood from the mouth foreshadows pecuniary 
loss from some vocal expression. 



140 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

Movers, or emigrants, with tents or wag- 
ons, represent the progress of an election cam- 
paign. They also represent the pursuit of a 
criminal. 

Mud invariably represents trouble of some 
kind. 

Mules and donkeys have reference to stu- 
pidity and stubbornness. Riding a mule some- 
times represents the policy of unmarried life. 

Music. — To dream of singing often signifies 
the successful arrangement of either domestic or 
business matters. The blowing of a flute or fife, 
or other wind instrument, has reference to matri- 
monial or other negotiable matters. 

Music also represents a combination of 
methods for accomplishing a certain purpose, 
and may consist of either negotiable or mechan- 
ical arrangements. 

First Illustration. — During the session of 
the European Conference, which met at Berlin 
in 1878 for the purpose of arranging conditions 
for the settlement of the Russio-Turkish war, 
which was then in progress, a certain man who 
felt interested in the subject of the war, dreamed 
that it was night time, and he saw a military 
troop, with large musical wind instruments, 
passing over a distant plain. That dream fore- 
shadowed the success of that conference. 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 141 

Second. — A certain small boy, well known 
to the writer, had an attack of diptheria. Just 
previous to the attack he dreamed of seeing little 
angel-girls, and they were singing the hymns 
that he had heard in the Sabbath-school. He 
said it seemed that he was about to go with them, 
but they told him to go back, and he did so~ 
The attack of the disease was severe, but he re- 
covered. 

Narrow -way. — My attention has beeo 
called to some dreams in which the better way 
has been represented as the narrow-way. It is 
only so in the sense that the passions should be 
hedged in by proper restraints. 

Negroes represent scoundrels, error, ig- 
norance, misfortune, disease, and death. A very 
favorable opinion of negroes entertained by the 
dreamer would undoubtedly have its eftect in 
dreams, and consequently would require a modi- 
fication of the foregoing definition. One corres- 
pondent states that friendly negroes foreshadow 
the reception of money to him. I have knowft 
them also to represent the study of a dark and 
mysterious subject, and negro minstrels to rep- 
resent a vain attempt to reconcile and harmonize 
ideas. One lady writes that she frequently saw, 
in her dreams, her drunken husband in the char- 
acter of a nude negro with a club. 



142 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

Nephews and Nieces. — Nephews repre- 
sent those who are professionally related to us ; 
such as one who writes and agrees with us upon 
a subject ; but nieces represent our critical op- 
ponents. 

Newspaper. — To dream of reading a news- 
paper signifies study, and efforts to learn. 

A newspaper seen with black stripes on its 
margins or columns, foreshadows literally such 
appearance and consequently the death of some 
-distinguished personage. 

Night, or Darkness, has reference to trou- 
blesome periods of life, or the uncertain stages of 
a doubtful enterprise ; inability to perceive the 
future results of the matter which is the subject 
of the dreatn. 

North. — (See Cardinal Points.) 

Nude. — To dream of being nude does not 
represent shame, as some have supposed, but it 
represents a declaration of one's principles — the 
•exposition of the mind upon the subject which 
the dream has reference to ; and if the part or 
parts exposed appear clean, it signifies purity and 
public approbation ; but if unclean, disapproba- 
tion is signified. In reference to shame, there 
may be exceptions. 

Nuts. — To give nuts to another signifies to 
impart instruction to him. 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 143 

Ocean. — (See Water.) 

Old Acquaintance. — To dream of meet- 
ing an old acquaintance signifies a repetition of 
some former event, or a return to a former con- 
dition, and that for which said old acquaintance 
is most distinguished will furnish a clue to what 
that event may consist of. 

Old Men or Women, and Old Buildings, 
represent subjects or matters which do not con- 
tain the elements of success or prosperity. They 
represent that which has ceased to be useful or 
profitable. Old buildings sometimes foreshadow 
death. 

Old Places. — A dream of old places, or a 
place which we had formerly known, I have 
often found foreshadowing misfortune; but in 
some cases it may signify a return to a former 
condition, which may be either good or ill. (See 
Home.) 

Onions. — A lady informed me that to dream 
of growing onions foreshadows illness to herself. 

Otter. — (See Animals.) 

Owls represent obscurity, and things hid- 
den or lost. 

Oxen or Oxteams, so far as investigated, 
have been found connected with misfortunes in 
business or other matters. But grazing cattle 
signify prosperity. 



144 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

Illustration. — Archelaus, having reigned ten 
years in Judea, was accused by his subjects to 
Caesar of cruelty and tyranny, and was immedi- 
ately summoned to his tribunal, his wealth was 
seized, and he himself condemned to banishment. 
This issue of affairs had been before disclosed to 
him in a dream, in which he had seen ten ears 
of corn, strong, full, and fruitful, which were 
eaten up of oxen, and which, amidst different 
constructions, Simon, an Essene, had interpreted 
to portend an unhappy change of affairs, as oxen 
were deemed emblems of misery, being creatures 
burthened with work, and emblems of change. 
The ten ears he represented to be so many years 
in which the harvest should be gathered, and the 
power of Archelaus be terminated. 

Package. — To dream of receiving a pack- 
age signifies the reception of important news, or 
orders, telegrams, etc., from a superior, assigning 
one to duty, or the like. Or it may represent 
the ultimatum in a business matter which one 
person offers to another. 

Pall. — Crape, or black cloth, usually dis- 
played to represent grief for the dead, or death 
without grief, represents the same in dreams. 

Public knowledge of the death of either a 
good or bad prominent man, assumes in dreams 
the emblems of pall. 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 145 

Illustration. — Zelda Seguin, the actress, had 
a remarkable dream in regard to a public event 
which soon after happened. Three nights before 
Jim Fisk was shot she dreamed she was walking 
up Broadway, N. Y., and the entire street was 
draped in mourning. The shutters of every store 
were closed, and in white letters upon a black 
ground, on every one, was the name u Jim Fisk." 
She turned into other streets and it was the same. 
Everywhere there was the drapery of mourning, 
and the name "Jim Fisk" in white letters. 
This dream she told next morning to her friends, 
and on the third day thereafter was shocked be- 
yond expression to learn that Fisk had been 
shot. Yet she had never even seen him. 

Paper Mills. — A paper mill has been 
known to represent musical studies. 

Passage. — A narrow passage between hills 
or fences has reference to a prescribed course 
which one is compelled to pursue. 

Pasture Lot. — (See Locality.) 

Path. — A narrow path has reference to an 
humble life; also to a life disciplined to virtue. 

Peafowl. — A peafowl represents worldly 
approbation. 

Pearls are said to signify tears, but I have 
had no opportunity to test the truth of that defi- 
nition. 
10 



146 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

Peddlers have reference to sales of goods 
or property, or the seeking for such sales. 

Pen. — A pen for writing has reference to 
the writing of original ideas, and the declaration 
and promulgation of them. (Illustrations will 
be found in Miscellaneous Dream Experiences.) 

People or Persons. — Either a collective 
body of people or individuals may appear in 
dreams or symbols representing various matters 
or things ; in some cases large numbers represent 
the degree of publicity of the matter ; but gen- 
erally, individuals appear in the various charac- 
ters or conditions of life which will most fitly 
represent the matter which is set forth. Indi- 
viduals specially noticed, but not recognized, 
represent matters never before experienced by 
the dreamer, except when man and woman rep- 
resent "good" and "evil." And those who are 
recognized represent that for which they are most 
distinguished, whether that be deeds, or mental 
or physical qualities. If the person recognized 
be a woman, it generally signifies a recurrence of 
some misfortune, from the like of which we had 
previously suffered. 

Events consisting of illness, good or ill for- 
tune, or any other of the innumerable occurrences 
of this life, are usually susceptible of division into 
several parts, and each of the parts are sometimes 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 147 

symbolically represented by a person. For il- 
lustration, we will repeat the fact that disease 
comes in the character of a robber, and it may 
be foreshadowed by a dream of many robbers, 
the number thus representing either more than 
one disease or several stages of the same disease. 

For another illustration, we will state that 
a person, just previous to entering upon a busi- 
ness enterprise, may dream of seeing a number 
of persons in a house, and the several persons 
will represent the various branches of the busi- 
ness which he has in view, or the different stages 
of it; and, if females predominate in numbers, it 
will not prove successful. 

To dream of passing along, or being pres- 
ent with a certain class of people, signifies either 
to become one of that class or to have dealings 
with that class in reference to the matter which 
is the subject of the dream. 

Symbol persons often appear to change in 
the dream to other characters. That represents 
change in the matter which is the subject of the 
dream. 

People of style represent the abuses of civil- 
ized life. Many people sometimes represent the 
world generally ; and wretched, poor people, the 
near approach of a death and loss in business. 



148 Dreamer's leaeher and Oneirocritica. 

One person may appear in the character of 
brother, sister, son or daughter, as the changing 
relations of the dreamer to said person in the 
shifting scenes of the case may require ; and often 
in more than one of these characters at the same 
time. 

Persons. A person recognized in a dream 
often presents an appearance very unlike their 
real appearance to one while in the waking state. 
This is so because the appearance in dreams is 
typical of a condition relating to the subject of 
the dream ; therefore, a fat person may appear 
lean, an old one young, a tall one short, a well 
one ill, a stout-limbed one lame, a weak one 
strong, etc. ; or any of these cases, and all similar 
ones, may be found reversed, when so required, 
to give a proper illustration of the subject. 

Photographs represent copies of the mind 
or ideas, as an author materializes his mind in a 
book. (See Pictures.) 

Physician. (See Profession.) 

Picnic. A picnic has reference to any gath- 
ering of people, situation, enjoyment, seance, 
public entertainment, etc. 

Pictures have reference to false or counter- 
feit things, or delusive hopes. Pictures have 
also appeared in visions to show the seer his past 
life. 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 149 

Pigs have reference to property. (See Ani- 
mals.) 

Pillars. — Standing pillars represent estab- 
lished systems of faith ; also one's condition, sit- 
uation or fate. 

Places. — To dream of having arrived at a 
level and pleasant place, signifies having accom- 
plished one's purpose or overcome previous diffi- 
culties, or met with some good fortune. (See 
Locality.) 

Poetry. — To dream of repeating poetry 
signifies harmony and agreement between per- 
sons; reconciliation; also the orderly arrange- 
ment of ideas upon a complicated subject. 

Poor. — Poor people sometimes literally rep- 
resent deficiency in the accumulation of property, 
but in ancient revelation poverty had reference 
to mental or spiritual deficiency. Poor people 
also sometimes have reference to investment in 
lands. 

Portmonnaie, for carrying money, has 
reference to business, purchase, sales, etc., and 
the measure of success in the matter represented 
of course must depend upon the condition of the 
portmonnaie, in regard to the kind and quantity 
of matter with which it may be stored. 

Position. — To dream of lying on the ground 
signifies helplessness; lying in bed represents 



150 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritica. 

inactivity ; sitting represents an established po- 
sition, and also a position of power; to sit lean- 
ing forward represents anxiety ; to sit in a dig- 
nified position represents self-satisfaction ; stand- 
ing represents readiness for action; two persons 
sitting near each other, but facing in opposite 
directions, represent a disagreement. 

Of course in every case the position has ref- 
erence to some certain matter which is the sub- 
ject of the dream. 

Postoffice. — To dream of entering, or 
being about a postoffice, signifies business in 
which there will be much correspondence. Post- 
office key represents means for the establishment 
of correspondence. 

Poultry has reference to business, diseases 
and home affairs. Dead poultry has reference to 
domestic infelicity. 

Powder. — One who dreams of carrying 
powder should look well to his business, for he 
will be in great danger of financial ruin or seri- 
ous pecuniary loss. 

Praying. — To dream of praying signifies 
an intense desire to overcome an evil which is 
about to overtake us. 

Priest or Preacher. — Priests or preach- 
ers, like men of other professions, represent that 
for which they are distinguished professionally; 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 151 

i. e., a priest or preacher may represent marriage, 
funerals, theology, destiny, etc. (See Profes- 
sion.) 

Profession. — An attorney represents law 
business; a physician represents remedies for 
disease ; a priest or preacher represents religious 
matters ; a merchant or peddler represents buy- 
ing and selling; to dream of seeing and convers- 
ing with one distinguished as a dealer in real 
estate, foreshadows the purchase or sale of real 
estate, and to dream of a bankrupt signifies dan- 
ger of bankruptcy, etc. In other words, each 
and every one, of whatever profession, occupa- 
tion, situation, etc., represents that for which 
they are most distinguished. But merely seeing 
does not signify the inevitable suffering or en- 
joying of those things, but that such matters will 
be brought to our attention, and if there appears 
to be conversation between parties in the matter, 
there certainly will be action in the matter which 
has been typified. (See Man.) 

Pumpkins seem to have reference to honors 
or profits. 

Quarreling signifies great, effort to over- 
come some difficulty, which may consist of sick- 
ness, disagreement with men, or other trouble. 

Railroads represent society and the pre- 
scribed rules for the government of civilization 



152 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

generally. The embankment represents the gen- 
eral customs and popular ways of the world ; the 
track represents the statute laws ; the locomotive 
represents the courts of law, and sometimes the 
business of a company ; and cars represent the 
busy, moving world of humanity. Consequently 
to dream of riding on cars may have reference to 
any common business matter; but to ride upon 
a locomotive foreshadows a suit at law, or en- 
gagement in the service of a company. 

Rabbits. — (See Animals.) 

Race Track. — A race track on a fair ground 
has reference to the race of life, for subsistance, 
fortune or fame. 

Rain. — To dream of a furious storm of wind 
and rain has reference to public excitement and 
much talk upon some subject. And to dream of 
being exposed to the falling rain foreshadows 
contention, suffering from persecution, slander, 
or being reproved, — one's associations with the 
world not going smoothly. 

Rams. — (See Sheep.) 

Rap. — To dream of a rap on the door or 
window of a dwelling foreshadows the call of 
disease or death, or the reception of important 
news. 

Rats represent mean, tricky men, thieves, 
depredators, etc. A society or association of 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 153 

people has also been known to be represented by 
a drove of rats. 

A white rat has been known to represent 
disease. 

Reading. — To dream of reading has refer- 
ence to study or news. 

Reclining. — (See Position.) 

Red. — (See Color.) 

Relatives, as well as other persons and 
things, often literally represent themselves ; and 
an interpreter must guard against the confound- 
ing the literal with the symbolic dreams, and 
parts of dreams. But in all symbolic dreams we 
find, in accordance with the rule, that objects 
most familiar to the mind are most frequently 
taken for such symbolic illustrations ; therefore, 
one's relatives are often seen in dreams, and their 
diversified relationship, consisting of the various 
degrees of consanguinity and social and pecuni- 
ary connections, render them peculiarly adapted 
to occupy (and they do occupy) a wide range of 
signification. 

The chief classes of relatives may be found 
defined in their alphabetical order; and others 
more distant, even persons only connected by 
ties of friendship, often have reference to degrees 
of moral relationship existing between persons 
in reference to some certain matter which is the 



154 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

subject of the dream. Or in other words, rela- 
tives represent persons morally or fraternally 
bound together, or such as are of the same faith 
or profession. 

Restaurant. — To dream of being in a 
restaurant signifies the period of study for a pupil 
or student. To appear to be in the kitchen of a 
restaurant is not favorable. 

Returning, after having gone to some 
place, signifies either the completion of an en- 
terprise or the abandonment of it. 

Riding. — (See Boats, Cars, Wagons, 
Horseback, etc.) 

Rings. — Finger-rings generally have refer- 
ence to matrimonial matters. When one appears 
on a certain finger it undoubtedly represents 
engagement or the married state ; but the various 
conditions and circumstances which may appear 
in a dream of this kind (as well as in all others) 
have their signification, and must be taken into 
consideration in the interpretation ; such, for 
instance, as the quality of the metal, who re- 
ceived from, if received, or the loss or breaking 
of it, etc. 

First Illustration. — Mrs. Crowe, in her 
" Night Side of Nature," relates a case in which 
a lady dreamed of seeking for her ring and met 
a stranger, who presented it to her. Some-months 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 155 

afterward she met and recognized the man she 
had seen in her dream, and a meeting again, two 
years later, resulted in their marriage. 

Second. — The mother of Sir Thomas Moore r 
on the night following her wedding, dreamed of 
seeing the names of all her children engraved in- 
her wedding ring. One of the names was very 
obscure, and another was very bright and con- 
spicuous. The symbol of the difference in the 
two names was fulfilled by one dying at birth,, 
and Sir Thomas' acquisition of great fame. 

As with gloves or mittens, so with rings. 
The left hand has reference to matters belonging 
to the past, the right to the present and future,, 
etc. 

In regard to the consideration of the various 
conditions and circumstances as mentioned in the 
foregoing, we wish it to be understood that rings 
do not in all cases have reference to matrimonia} 
matters. For an illustration of that fact we 
present 

Third. — Rev. John Newton states that when* 
he was a profligate sailor on shipboard he dreamed 
that a beautiful being descended out of the clouds 
and gave him a ring, and assured him that as 
long as he kept it he should be successful and 
happy. But another person ridiculed the belief 
of any virtue in the ring, and persuaded him to 



156 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

throw it away ; and he did throw it over the 
ship's side into the water. Then fire broke out 
of the distant mountains, and his tempter told 
him that he must go with him to the burning 
mountains. He felt himself condemned, and was 
about to go with him, when the giver of the ring 
returned to him again, and went down into the 
water and brought up the ring again, and said 
he would keep it for him (Newton), for he would 
not be able to keep it for himself. He awoke in 
a state of mind not easy to be described. He 
could hardly eat or sleep, or transact any worldly 
business, for two or three days, etc. 

The above is but a brief outline of the 
dream; and the narrator adds: "That a time 
came when I found myself in circumstances very 
nearly resembling those suggested by this extra- 
ordinary dream ; and the Lord answered for me 
in the day of my distress. And but for this, 
many a time and often (if possible) I should have 
ruined myself since my first deliverance," etc. 

Fourth. — A ring set with diamonds, and 
presented by a young man, was found to signify 
-educational accomplishments. 

River. — As we stand upon the shore of a 
river and contemplate the passing waters, with- 
out being able to perceive its source or termina- 
tion, so we, in contemplation, look out upon the 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 157 

passing tide of humanity in its unceasing march 
along the ages. This is not merely a fanciful 
illustration, but we perceive, from its application 
to many dreams, both ancient and modern, that 
it is a part of the true language of dreams; and 
consequently, when we contemplate man beyond 
this present life, we typically view the further 
shore of the river. 

Illustration. — Jovius relates that Spertia 
dreamed, in a morning slumber, that having fal- 
len into a river he was in great danger of being 
drowned, and that on calling for assistance to a 
man of extraordinary stature, who was on the 
further shore, he was by him slighted and neg- 
lected. He related the dream to his wife and 
servants. On the same day, seeing a child fall 
into the river near the castle of Pescara, he 
leaped into the river with the design to save the 
child, but, being overburdened with the weight 
of his armor, he was choked in the mud and per- 
ished. 

The man of extraordinary stature upon the 
further shore of the river, represented the sup- 
posed ability of the Deity to save his life, but 
was by Him neglected. 

Roads. — Common roads represent the usual 
channel of thought and action, and often typify 
the course which we must pursue from choice or 



158 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

necessity. A rough, or muddy, or slippery, or 
steep road, up hill or down, represents difficulties 
in the subject set forth; traveling where there is 
no road represents studies in an unexplored field 
of thought ; and old or new roads represent re- 
spectively old or new channels of thought. 

Robber. — Money, property, health, happi- 
ness, affections, peace, reputation or life, are 
sometimes lost, and the cause by which we may 
lose them will often appear in dreams, material- 
ized in the character of a robber. 

A robber entering a certain room of a dwell- 
ing house foreshadows illness to the chief occu- 
pant of that room. 

I have known a robber, in the character of 
a black female, to represent death. 

A robber also represents ungovernable traits 
of character, which sometimes prevents the de- 
velopment of one's better qualities. 

Rooms represent the various situations which 
a person may be placed in in regard to the mat- 
ter which is the subject of the dream ; therefore, 
going from one room to another signifies change 
of situation in regard to the same subject. 

Closing a room signifies to end the part of 
the subject which it represents. (See House.) 

Ropes represent anything that binds, either 
morally or physically, as one may be bound to 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined, 159 

bed by illness, or as one may be bound by writ- 
ings to certain conditions of business, or as one 
may be morally bound by family or social obli- 
gations. 

Running signifies energetic action, but it 
may consist of either rapid progress toward suc- 
cess, or to failure in the matter which is the sub- 
ject of the dream. 

Sadness. — To dream of being serious, sad 
or sorrowful, or depressed in spirit, must be un- 
derstood to literally foreshadow that state of 
feeling in the near future. 

Satyr. — The fabulous Satyr represents a 
tyrant. 

Scarf. — A scarf, like other articles of wear- 
ing apparel, has reference to character, or a 
position assumed before the public. It has been 
known to represent the writing of an article for 
publication. (See Clothing.) 

School-rooms and school buildings of every 
class have reference to the teaching of something. 

Scythe or Sickle. — A scythe or sickle has 
reference to a moral harvest, or the ending of 
that which is the subject of the dream. It may 
represent the end of the old order of things, as 
St. John saw it ; or it may represent the end of 
a certain business matter; or it may represent 



1 60 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

the end of one's life, when such is necessary for 
the proper illustration of the subject. 

The angel was commanded to thrust in his 
sickle and reap ; for the harvest (wrongs) of the 
earth was ripe ; and the angel thrust in his sickle 
and the earth was reaped, etc. 

The symbol is just now being fulfilled in the 
extraordinary agitation now prevailing in refer- 
ence to the reform of abuses which exist through- 
out the world. 

Screaming. — To dream of screaming has 
reference to great efforts to be heard in regard to 
some certain matter, or to overcome some diffi- 
culty. 

Screws have reference to axioms and rules. 

Sea. — (See Water.) 

Sea Shell. — A sea shell represents a sub- 
ject which has required much study for the de- 
velopment of its truth. 

Sea of Glass represents spiritual truth. 
St. John foresaw the time when the righteous 
should stand upon a sea of glass. 

Seal. — To seal up signifies to conceal or 
close, but to open seals signifies the exposition of 
that which was previously concealed. St. John 
foresaw the future of the world's history in the 
typical illustration of a sealed book. 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 161 

Seat. — A seat has reference to a moral situ- 
ation, — an assumption of authority or a situation 
assigned to the matter or person represented. A 
seat which appears too small signifies an insuffi- 
cient or unsuccessful situation in the matter rep- 
resented. 

First Illustration. — St. John saw a blasphe- 
mous beast (the Church of Rome) which received 
its seat from the dragon (Roman Empire). 

Second Illustration. — Goethe dreamed that 
he was invited to take the seat of a certain alder- 
man, and he was afterward appointed to fill the 
vacancy caused by the death of that alderman. 

Self. — We may see ourselves in the char- 
acter of another, or of various persons, at one 
and the same time. 

Sekiousness. — (See Sadness.) 

Sex. — A public statement of one's opinions, 
in regard to religion or other matters, is often 
typified by the dream of the exposure of the nude 
body, and sometimes of exposure of the sex. 
Persons acting out of their legitimate sphere will 
often appear in the character of one of the oppo- 
site sex. 

Shawl. — A shawl has reference to the acts 
of one who has written articles for publication. 
(See Clothing.) 

11 



162 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

Sheep. — The presence of sheep sometimes 
signifies illness; and when they are seen to pass 
over a fence it has reference to the change called 
death. Dogs killing sheep signifies murder. 
Rams have reference to belligerency. However, 
to a clergyman a flock of sheep represents the 
members of a church. 

Communicated by W. J. Atkinson. 

First Illustration. — During the Rebellion, 
just about the close, my wife's brother, a young 
man, engaged to go with and assist in driving a 
drove of fat cattle to St. Louis. The night be- 
fore he started he stayed with a neighbor, and 
they slept in a new house, one he had never 
slept in before. On retiring the gentleman told 
him to remember what he dreamed, as it would 
come true, being the first time he had slept in 
the house. That night he dreamed that " Bill 
Anderson's" men killed him and all the company 
with him. Three days from that time, while 
they were on their way to St. Louis, in Boone 
county, Mo., the rebels came upon them, killing 
every one of them. About the night before they 
were killed, this young man's mother dreamed 
she saw a sheep killed by a dog. She thought 
the dog brought the lamb and laid it down at her 
feet. She was troubled about it, and afterwards 
concluded it was a token of the death of her son. 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 163 

Second. — Just before S. S. Jones, editor of 
R. P. Journal, was killed, I dreamed I saw dogs 
kill sheep. I decided some innocent person would 
be killed or suffer. I reported the same to the 
Journal after Jones' death. 

Third. — A short time ago I dreamed of see- 
ing sheep that were killed. I believed that a 
token of the death of a young man in the neigh- 
borhood, and so it proved. 

Fourth. — I had a talk with a Baptist minis- 
ter upon the subject of dreams, when he said, 
"I have had some dreams that I think were pro- 
phetic," and related three, which I give you as 
follows : " I went to hold a meeting with a 
church, and the prospect for my success ap- 
peared gloomy. I was anxious as to the 
course to pursue, halting, as it were, between 
two opinions, whether to dismiss the meeting or 
not. I went to bed, praying to be directed as to 
the decision to make. That night I dreamed I 
was hunting sheep, and that I must find them, 
for I knew they were near where I was. I pur- 
sued the search and came upon them, twelve in 
number, all white, and nice, and gentle, and 
they came to me when I called; but I saw an- 
other one with the twelve that was a motley- 
faced, grizzly-looking one. I could not tell 
whose it was, nor where it came from. I did 



164 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

not recognize it as one of mine ; in fact, twelve 
was all of my flock. When I awoke I thought 
upon it, and decided that I should get in the 
meeting twelve converts who would remain true 
to the cause, and one who would backslide. I 
related my dream to the friend with whom I was 
staying, together with my interpretation. I con- 
tinued the meeting and thirteen joined, one of 
whom did return, like the ' sow that was washed, 
to the mire/ but the other twelve remain true to 
the present." 

lifth. — When the Rev. John Wesley was 
thinking about building a chapel in Newcastle- 
upon-Tyne, he received a letter with these ex- 
pressions and a £100 bill: " Friend John — I 
dreamed that I saw thee with a flock of sheep, 
but that thou hadst no fold to put them into. I 
concluded that it meant that thou hadst a people, 
but no place of worship for them. I therefore 
send the one hundred pounds towards building 
one. Thy Friend." 

Sixth. — In " Brutus of Accias," which is 
cited by Cicero, Tarquinus Superbus relates his 
dream : That a shepherd drove his flock to him ; 
two rams of the same breed were selected from 
thence, both choice and beautiful, and he killed 
the finer of them ; the other rushed upon him 
with his horns, and cast him down and wounded 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 165 

him. These rams, of the same breed, signified 
Lucius Junius Brutus and his brother, one of 
whom was slain by Tarquin, and the other rose 
against Tarquin and despoiled him of his king- 
dom. 

Ships of traffic represent the exchange of 
goods and products between nations, but ships of 
war represent military armaments and war equip- 
ment, either on sea or land. To those who have 
become familiar with the appearance of ships, 
they will often represent the journey of life. 

Shoes. — (See Boots and Shoes.) 

Shooting. — To dream of shooting at a per- 
son, or of being shot at, foreshadows persecution, 
criticism, a lawsuit, or the like. 

Shops. — Shops for manufacturing represent 
moral or mental work ; but store shops for the 
sale of articles have their good or ill significa- 
tion, according to the kind of article kept on 
sale. A millinery shop has an evil signification, 
and signifies loss in business; but a carpenter 
shop has reference to literary work. 

Shouting. — (See Screaming.) 

Show Cases represent much advertising of 
any matter, such as the showy bills of lottery 
schemes and the like. To dream of measuring a 
show case signifies to invest in the scheme which 
it represents. 



166 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

Sickle. — (See Scythe.) 

Sickness or Illness of a person seen in a 
dream signifies moral weakness or inability of 
said person, or whatever or whomsoever he or 
she may represent in regard to the matter which 
is the subject of the dream. 

Silver. — (See Coin.) 

Singing. — To dream of hearing singing 
from birds, girls, women, negroes, or angels, 
foreshadows the triumph of evil, in illness or 
death ; but when one dreams of singing himself, 
or herself, it represents harmonious arrangements 
of matters by negotiation, such as a contract in 
relation to marriage or other matters. (See 
Music.) 

Sinking. — To sink in water often has ref- 
erence to failure in health or business ; and when 
it has reference to failure in health, if not seen to 
rise again, it signifies death. 

Sister. — To an unmarried man a sister rep- 
resents his intended wife, or best female friend. 
A Sister of Mercy has been seen in connection 
with disagreement between men in business. 
The signification in the latter case would depend 
much upon the religious belief of the dreamer. 
A sister has also been known to represent an un- 
profitable subject of thought. 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 167 

Size represents power, or the degree of im- 
portance of a matter. Persons, animals, snakes, 
or objects appearing in dreams, when of unusual 
large or small size, indicate the relative degree of 
power or importance of the matter which is set 
forth. 

Sleeping. — To dream of sleeping repre- 
sents unconsciousness of the true state of the 
facts in regard to the matter represented. 

Sleigh-riding. — A dream of sleigh-riding 
signifies misfortune. 

Smoke. — I have known the appearance of 
smoke to be connected with strife, contention 
and belligerent acts and compulsory means. It 
also has reference to the obscuration of truth. 
St. John foresaw the obscuration of truth in the 
teachings of Mohammedanism, by the symbols of 
smoke ascending out of the pit. 

Snakes. — It appears to be the general opin- 
ion among dreamers that snakes represent ene- 
mies. It is so in many cases, but I have known 
dreams of snakes to foreshadow national troubles, 
ill -health, ill -business, domestic and other 
troubles. The magnitude and power of the diffi- 
culties are in direct ratio to the apparent size and 
activity of the symbol snake. There are few 
dreamers who are familiar with the natural sight 
of living snakes, and have experienced many of 



168 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

the ills and difficulties of life, who have not had 
snakes presented in their dreams as symbol rep- 
resentatives of those ills and difficulties. 

In our own dreams we have seen them of 
various sizes and forms, active and torpid, long 
and slim, or short and thick, of enormous size or 
small, sometimes having legs and at other times 
standing straight up on the ends of their tails, 
looking directly at us. Each of these conditions 
have their own peculiar signification . 

Illustration. — The mother of Scanderbeg 
dreamed, previous to his birth, that she saw a 
serpent which covered all Epirus, his head being 
stretched over the Turkish dominions, where he 
devoured everything with bloody jaws; his tail 
spreading over the Christian empire, and partic- 
ularly affecting the Venetian empire. 

The foregoing dream is a very singular one 
for a mother to dream in reference to her pros- 
pective son ; but the subsequent history of that 
son leaves no doubt of its reference to him. 
Other similar illustrations of snakes will be 
found under the head of " Narratives of General 
Dream Experiences." 

I clip from the Religio Philosophical Jour- 
nal of January, 1886, the following from a cor- 
respondent of that Journal : 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 169 

" If I am going to meet an enemy I dream 
of him in the form of a snake. I know the kind 
of enemy by the kind of snake, and how much of 
an enemy by the size, etc. If I kill the snake I 
overcome, and if he bites me I get injured. If I 
am going to make friends I dream of fish ; the 
size and kind of fish denote their value. To 
dream of muddy water denotes trouble ; the ex- 
tent and thickness of the water inform me of the 
extent and severity of the trouble. I might 
mention m$ny things that are tokens to me in a 
certain class of dreams." 

The preceding statement of personal experi- 
ence coincides with that which has been received 
from others, and with our definitions, except 
with regard to snakes and fish. Snakes represent 
troubles and difficulties as well as persons, and 
fish represent various degrees of success in busi- 
ness, as well as friends or persons, as stated by the 
correspondent. 

Snow. — To dream of wading in snow, or of 
driving a team in snow, signifies business diffi- 
culties, pecuniary loss, trouble, grief or disap- 
appointment. Snow-storms sometimes signify 
death. 

Soldiers represent war and military mat- 
ters. A certain dreamer foresaw the commence- 
ment of the war of the rebellion in the appear- 



170 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

ance of soldiers marching away from him, and 
about four years later the same dreamer foresaw 
peace in the appearance of soldiers returning to- 
ward him. 

Soldiers also signify death by accident or 
disease. 

Illustration. — Mr. D., writing from the State 
of Rhode Island, says : " In dreaming of soldiers 
with muskets (by myself or wife), there always 
follows some death or terrible accident in near 
proximity to where seen. When a terrible fire 
occurred in near proximity, where many had to 
leap from the third and fourth story windows, 
we both dreamed the same, of seeing the soldiers 
patroling on the very street it occurred on. 
Some number of lives were lost on the occasion ; 
and after that we dreamed of another street being 
paraded by soldiers, and the following day a man 
was thrown from his express w T agon and killed 
on the same street; and still a third instance, 
where a woman jumped from a window and died 
in consequence. 

Sons. — Sons of considerable size represent 
helpers. 

Any person whose mind is much engrossed 
with an object or pursuit, if he is destined to be 
successful in that object or pursuit, will often 
dream of the presence of his little son (if he has 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 171 

one ; if not, it will be another's son) ; or if des- 
tined to be unsuccessful a small daughter will 
appear to be present. 

Among exceptions we may note the fact 
that a mother will sometimes see herself and son 
representing only herself alone. For illustration 
of this fact we might refer to many cases which 
have come to our attention. One case was that 
of a mother who dreamed of her little son com- 
ing into the house dreadfully wounded in the 
face, and she (the mother) wept inconsolably 
because of it. She died of consumption soon af- 
terwards. 

Another case was that of a mother who 
dreamed her son was ill ; the mother fell ill soon 
after, but nothing happened to her son. 

Still another case was that of a mother who 
dreamed that her son's face was dirty, and that 
he had lice upon his head (both representing ill- 
ness) : the result w T as, the mother soon fell ill r 
but nothing unusual occurred to the son. 

I am aware that people who have given no 
attention to the subject will claim the foregoing 
cases are mere coincidences, but to those who 
have observed very many cases, as we have done ? 
with unvarying results, it amounts to a full de- 
monstration of the fact. 

There are other exceptions in regard to sons 



172 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritiea. 

and daughters of more advanced years than those 
previously referred to. These exceptions are 
governed by the various relations which s^rown 
up sons and daughters occupy toward their pa- 
rents ; therefore those conditions, as well as the 
relationship, must be considered in each case. 

Relatives who are more distant than those 
previously named, have reference to degrees of 
moral relationship which certain persons may 
occupy in relation to the matter which may be 
the subject of the dream. 

Sowing seed signifies investment for future 
profits. 

South. — (See Cardinal Points.) 

Speaking, Shouting or Screaming signi- 
fies action in the matter which is the subject of 
the dream. (See Conversation.) 

Spirits. — To dream of feeling the presence 
of spirits foreshadows illness, trouble and pecu- 
niary losses. (See Apparitions.) 

Spitting from the mouth represents words 
or vocal expressions from the mouth. 

Squirrels. — (See Animals.) 

Stag. — To dream of pursuing a stag has 
reference to either general or special business 
enterprises. 

Stage. — To dream of being on the public 
stage foreshadows one's appearance before the 
public in some capacity. 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 173 

Staks. — Stars almost invariably represent 
men distinguished for either good or evil deeds. 
Joseph, son of Jacob, had a dream in which his 
eleven brothers were represented by eleven stars. 

First Illustration. — St. John, in a vision, 
saw a woman representing the church, and her 
crown of twelve stars represented the twelve 
Apostles. 

Second. — He also saw Mohammed as a star, 
with a key of the bottomless pit, when he let 
smoke out of the pit, etc. 

Third. — The founder of the Papal power 
appeared in one of St. John's visions as a star 
which was burning like a lamp. 

Fourth. — The casting down of distinguished 
men from high places during the dark ages was 
represented by the symbol of stars falling from 
heaven. 

Fifth. — Wise men of the east saw a star rep- 
resenting Jesus. This is not stated as being a 
dream or vision, but it could not be otherwise 
and be true ; besides, this view of it corresponds 
to the manner in which other distinguished per- 
sonages have been heralded to the world. 

Sixth.— On the 16th of August, 1769, Fred- 
erick II, of Prussia, is said to have dreamed 
that a star fell from heaven, and occasioned such 
an extraordinary glare that he could with great 



174 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritiea. 

difficulty find his way through it. He mentioned 
his dream to his attendants, and it was after- 
wards observed that it was on that day that Na- 
poleon was born. — Night Side of Nature. 

The readers of history will not fail to per- 
ceive the fulfillment of the preceding symbol in 
the Napoleonic wars with Prussia. 

There are, however, exceptions in regard to 
the individuals being distinguished ; for I have 
known cases in which the pupils of a school have 
appeared in the dreams of their teacher as a 
cluster of stars of various hues and magnitudes. 

Steamboat. — The running of a steamboat 
represents proceedings at law, and organized 
force or effort in business ; also an election cam- 
paign, and the like. One performing duties for 
a company or as an official, will dream of riding 
on a steamboat. And in some cases the career 
of one's life is typified by the dream of a ride on 
a steamboat. But the latter case will be deter- 
mined by the profession or occupation, whether 
it shall be typified by a steamboat or other boat. 

Ocean steamers have a more comprehensive 
signification, and include international affairs, 
maritime laws, and schemes for the reform or 
advancement of mankind generally. 

Stone. — A stone sometimes represents a 
moral weapon. The stone which smote Nebu- 



,_ 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 175 

chadnezzar's dream image represented the moral 
attack of the republican system of government 
upon the monarchical system. A stone also 
sometimes represents Truth. The white stone 
spoken of in St. John's Revelation represents the 
reception of Inspiration by an advanced stage of 
spiritual development. Stone walls, stone houses, 
stone abutments or archways are often seen in 
dreams relating to spiritual philosophy. 

A flint-stone was observed to represent an 
idea or system in reference to spiritual philoso- 
phy. Standing on a revolving stone signified 
work upon the subject of dreams. 

Storm. — A wind storm represents mental 
excitement among people ; a rain storm, gossip, 
scandal, or unfavorable remarks towards a per- 
son ; a hail storm signifies persecution ; to dream 
of being exposed to a snow storm has been known 
to signify death. 

Stream. — (See Water.) 

Streets. — Dream scenes upon streets or 
alleys, or public highways, generally have refer- 
ence to matters which are not concealed from the 
public mind. 

Suicide. — To dream of seeing or convers- 
ing with one who has committed suicide signifies 
that you will do, or are liable to do, something 
which will destroy your moral influence, or de- 



176 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritiea. 

feat your own purposes — loss of moral or finan- 
cial ability by our own unwise act. 

Sun, Moon and Stars. — The light of the 
sun represents the spiritual light of the world — 
religious light. It should be understood in this 
sense in nearly all passages of scripture in which 
it is found. 

The light of the moon represents the light of 
science, art and literature, — the secular light of 
the world. Stars have previously been defined 
as men distinguished for good or evil deeds. 

There are, however, some exceptions to the 
definition of sun and moon, one of which is found 
recorded in Genesis, chap, xxxvii., verse 9. In 
that case the father, mother and sons are rep- 
resented by the sun, moon and stars. We may 
add here that a final triumph over difficulties is 
sometimes foreshadowed by the dreamer appear- 
ing to come suddenly into a place where the sun 
was shining. 

Illustration. — Before Mohammed was known 
to fame, Cadigha, a wealthy widow of Mecca, re- 
ceived him into her service, and afterward raised 
him to a near connection by marriage. She is 
said to have been influenced by dreams to do 
these things. In one of her dreams she saw the 
sun descending from heaven and entering her 
house, diffusing a splendor by which every house 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 177 

in Mecca was enlightened. This typical illus- 
tration was certainly fulfilled when the people of 
Mecca embraced the religion of Mohammed, her 
husband. 

The teachings of Mohammed was represent- 
ed in Cadigha's dream by sunlight; but in St. 
John's vision it was represented by smoke, which 
darkened the air. This seeming contradiction 
was produced by the fact that in St. John's vis- 
ion the whole scope of the history of Moham- 
medanism was foreshadowed in one view, while 
in Cadigha's dream only that which was imme- 
mediate and personal to herself was presented. 
(See Moon.) 

Supper. — (See Eating.) 

Swan. — A swan has been known to repre- 
sent a very good man. 

Illustration. — Socrates, immediately previ- 
ous to receiving Plato as his disciple, dreamed 
that he beheld a swan, which, with growing 
feathers and outstretched wings, raised himself 
up and sang harmoniously. This is supposed to 
have been typically fulfilled in the wisdom de- 
veloped in Plato and taught by him to the world. 

Swimming signifies a public career, such as 
a writer or lecturer. 

Swine. — (See Animals.) 

12 



178 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritica. 

Swinging. — To dream of swinging has ref- 
erence to a certain routine of business, or matter 
in which there is a continual repetition of action 
with little or no progress. I have heard of such 
dreams in the experience of teachers of schools 
in which the person was exercised in one contin- 
ual round in the lower branches of education, 
with little opportunity for self-improvement. 

Dreams of swinging will also apply to all 
cases of a similar kind. 

Sword. — A sword represents force, either 
morally or physically. (See Weapon.) 

Table. — Matters on a table represent mat- 
ters for consideration. Preparing a meal-table 
signifies to prepare a situation for one or more 
persons. To sit at a meal-table is to enjoy or 
suffer in the situation prepared. Eating is an- 
other matter, which depends upon the kind and 
quality of food partaken of. (See Eating.) 

Tail. — When an animal is seen as a symbol 
representing a government, church, society, or 
other organized institution, the tail of said ani- 
mal represents the consequences resulting from 
that which is typified. The persecution and cast- 
ing down of distinguished men by Papal Rome 
was typified in St. John's visions by the seven- 
headed beast which cast the stars down with his 
tail. 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined, 179 

Teacher. — A dream of seeing a school 
teacher often has reference to any teacher, lec- 
turer, preacher, or inventor, upon any subject 
designed for the instruction of the people. 

Team. — To dream of driving a team of two 
horses, with wagon attached, often represents the 
management of the affairs of a family ; and one 
horse, with buggy or wagon, one's affairs in 
single life. But I have also known a team of 
either one or two horses to represent the man- 
agement of a certain business. 

Ox-teams represent unprofitable business. 
In dreams one's team often appears uncontroll- 
able, or far ahead, or far in the rear. This is so 
because they often represent matters beyond 
control. 

Tears. — (See Weeping.) 

Teeth. — Although any one may learn the 
rules and definitions which govern the language 
of dreams, yet persons with equal intellectual 
abilities in other respects may be very unequal 
in capacity in the perception of resemblances, 
which is an indispensable faculty in the practical 
application of those rules. For the illustration 
of this fact we may take u Teeth/' as they often 
appear in dreams. The relative position of the 
teeth in the mouth may be very aptly likened to 
the family circle. They may also be likened to 



180 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

the pupils of a school, or an organized society of 
people or circle of intimate friends. We have 
known them to appear in dreams as symbols in 
all of these cases ; and there may be other cases 
which can only be perceived by one who is 
familiar with the surrounding circumstances of 
the dreamer, and who is possessed with a keen 
perception of resemblance, and a knowledge of 
the rules which govern dream language. 

In accordance with the foregoing w r e have 
known parents who have dreamed of losing a 
tooth immediately preceding the death of one of 
their children. We have also known other par- 
ents who have dreamed of the appearance of a 
new tooth previous to the birth of a child. 

First Illustration. — Bishop Jewel, of Queen 
Mary's time, dreamed that two of his teeth 
dropped out. He was intimate with Bishops 
Hooper and Ridley, who were burned by the 
order of the bloody Queen Mary immediately 
after the dream occurred, and Bishop Jewel very 
properly associated the symbol with that horrid 
deed. 

Second. — An affianced lady dreamed that she 
pulled one of her teeth out with a string. Soon 
afterward she discovered that it was indispen- 
sable that her marriage engagement should be 
annulled. 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 181 

There are exceptions to the foregoing in re- 
gard to teeth, as they do not in all cases represent 
persons. I have known a tooth to represent a 
certain business, and the pulling of an old snag 
of a tooth to represent the riddance of a difficulty. 
Also, when ferocious or destructive animals ap- 
pear in dreams as symbols representing organi- 
zations of governments, churches, societies, etc., 
then the teeth of said animals represent the de- 
structive character and power of said government, 
church, society, etc. The truth of the preceding 
proposition may be readily perceived by reference 
to the ten-horned beast spoken of in the Apoca- 
lypse. That beast represented the Roman gov- 
ernment, and its great iron teeth aptly typified 
its destructive power. 

Theater. — The gallery of a theater repre- 
sents a situation for the contemplation of the 
general affairs of the world. 

Thunder. — To dream of hearing thunder 
has reference to threatening diplomatic or mili- 
tary events ; it has this signification in biblical 
dreams and visions, but in some cases it may 
represent the belligerent affairs of individuals. 

Thunderbolt. — A thunderbolt represents 
a person of great moral power. 

Illustration. — A short time previous to the 
birth of the Maid of Orleans, the prospective 



182 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

mother dreamed that she brought forth a thun- 
derbolt. 

Timber. — (See Wood.) 

Time. — In the revelation of events, " Time " 
is annihilated, and the events of years, or of 
thousands of years, appear as present; but be- 
tween the parts of a series of events there is 
sometimes a seeming length of time which should 
be literally understood in connection with the 
matter represented. 

Town. — (See City.) 

Tracks. — The works of people, either lit- 
erary or otherwise, are represented by tracks. 
To dream of following tracks signifies to follow 
in the works and ways of others ; but to travel 
where there is no road or track signifies an orig- 
inal course in the matter represented. 

While engaged in writing upon the subject 
of the present work, I have often dreamed of 
traveling across fields where there was neither 
road nor track. (See Roads.) 

Train. — (See Cars.) 

Traveling has reference to action in some 
certain matter; and the various methods of trav- 
eling, and the kind and condition of the road and 
scenery along the way, give a pretty wide scope 
to its signification ; but much of it will be found 
in its alphabetical order, under the heads of 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 183 

boats, steamboats, cars, and other modes of 
traveling. 

Trees, seen in dreams and not distinguished 
by species, represent kingdoms, churches, com- 
panies, societies, but more frequently individuals. 
But when distinguished by species, evergreen 
trees, seen in good condition, have reference to 
success in the matter represented ; but to see 
trees of annual foilage has not proved favorable 
to success. The condition of all trees must be 
duly considered in all cases. 

First Illustration. — The late Rev. T. Scott, 
author of " A Commentary on the Bible," met with 
a case which he has stated as follows: "A poor 
man, most dangerously ill, of whose religious 
state I entertained some hopes, seemed to me in 
the agonies of death. I sat by his bed for a con- 
siderable time, expecting to see him expire ; but 
at length he awoke, as from sleep, and noticed 
me. I said, ' You are extremely ill/ He re- 
plied, ' Yes, but I shall not die this time/ I 
asked the ground of this extraordinary confi- 
dence, saying that I was persuaded that he would 
not recover. To this he answered : " I have just 
dreamed that you, with a very venerable-looking 
person, came to me. He asked you what you 
thought of me — ' What kind of a tree is it? Is 
there any fruit?' You said, 'No, but there 



184 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

are blossoms/ 'Well, then/ he said, 'I will 
spare it a little longer/ The man recovered, 
but gave no attention to the subject of religion 
until several years later, when he finally em- 
braced Christianity." 

Second. — In the year 1865 a lady dreamed 
that a large green tree fell, and that a great 
crowd of people was much excited on account of 
the falling of the great tree. The assassination 
of President Lincoln occurred very soon after the 
dream, and the dreamer properly associated the 
dream with that event. 

Third. — Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, 
had a dream in which his personal misfortunes 
were foreshadowed. In that dream he was rep- 
resented as a great tree in the midst of the earth. 

(See further illustrations in Miscellaneous 
Dream Experiences). 

Trumpets, like loud voice or roaring lion, 
represent various degrees of force in the subject 
which is represented. 

Tubs. — Like tubs in which water or other 
other fluids are stored, so the mind may acquire 
and retain knowledge. 

Illustration. — A student at school dreamed 
that he was climbing a tower of tubs, and that 
he stopped one short of the top. It was fulfilled 
in his rise from class to class, and leaving school 
before graduating. 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined, 185 

Tumblers, and other glass vessels, have 
reference to theories in regard to spiritual things, 
and to new discoveries in which there has been 
great mental effort. 

Turkeys. — Wild turkeys represent projects 
relating to speculations or business enterprises. 
Success or failure will be indicated by the success 
or failure to capture or approach near to the 
game. 

Turtles represent enterprises, the success 
of which appears to be doubtful. 

UmbrelLx\. — An umbrella has reference to 
defense against slander, scandal or persecution. 

Unconsciousness. To dream of being in 
an unconscious state, like a dream of sleeping; 
has reference to matters in which we may be in- 
terested, but the true condition of which we are 
not aware of. 

Up-stairs represents an unfavorable situa- 
tion, either financially or otherwise. We may 
also add that to dream of being upon anything 
high above ground is not a favorable situation. 

Urine. — To dream of discharging urine 
has been found to signify success in teaching, 
expressing ideas, asking favors, etc. 

Valleys. — To dream of being in a pleas- 
ant valley is more favorable than to dream of 
being on hills or elevated land. 



186 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

Vampire. — To dream of a vampire was 
known to have reference to disease. 

Velocipede. — To dream of riding on a 
velocipede or bicycle has reference to authorship 
or other single-handed enterprise. The measure 
of success in the matter must be determined from 
the surroundings. 

Vine. — A running vine typifies passing 
time. 

First Illustration. — The vine with three 
branches seen by Pharaoh's butler in his dream, 
represented three more days of imprisonment for 
him. A vine also represents lineage. 

Second. — Astyages, sovereign of the Mede§ ; 
having dreamed that a vine springing from his 
daughter overspread all Asia, the soothsayers led 
him to apprehend that her offspring would de- 
prive him of his dominions. In order to pre- 
vent this, he gave her in marriage to Cambyses, 
an obscure Persian, and delivered her son Cyrus 
to a confidential servant to be slain ; but the di- 
rections not being observed, the child lived to 
overcome Astyages, and to translate the king- 
dom from the Medes to the Persians. — Theory of 
Dreams. 

Voice. A voice heard in a dream fore- 
shadows something to be proclaimed or expressed, 
either vocally or otherwise. Like speaking, it 



Dream and Vision /Symbols Defined. 187 

represents action ; and to hear is to be made 
aware or to understand the matter in hand. An 
ineffectual effort to speak signifies inability to 
attract attention to the matter represented. A 
loud or low tone of voice represents the relative 
moral force of the matter. To converse by whis- 
pering represents confidential matters of indi- 
viduals ; it may also represent a weak effort to 
act in the matter which is the subject of the 
dream. 

Vomiting signifies that we will regret or 
wish to retract something which we have said. 

Wagons. — Emigrant wagons sometimes 
represent literary enterprises, election campaigns, 
traveling upon journeys, pursuit of criminals, 
etc. Wagon tracks have reference to impres- 
sions made upon the mind by previous authors 
or teachers. 

Walking signifies action in the matter re- 
ferred to. 

War. — To dream of war has reference to a 
lawsuit. 

Washing. — To dream of washing the hands 
has reference to the riddance of some difficulty ; 
but to dream of washing clothes, or to see tubs 
and dirty clothes about, foreshadows a death or 
severe illness. 

Watch. — A running watch or clock often 



188 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritiea. 

represents the vital forces of the human system. 
It also represents the several parts of an active 
routine of business ; consequently, to dream that 
the machinery of a watch or clock has stopped 
its motion, foreshadows either death or a suspen- 
sion of business. 

Illustration. — A certain gentleman, while 
doing a partnership business which had a very 
promising appearance, dreamed that he had a 
gold watch, which afterward appeared to be a 
silyer one, and finally fell to the ground broken 
into pieces, but was still running. It was ful- 
filled by the partnership having a less profitable 
appearance, after running a while, and finally 
was dissolved with much loss to the dreamer ; 
but the business was continued by one member 
of the firm. 

Water. — The sea, or ocean, generally rep- 
resents masses of the human race which have not 
ei well-organized government. It should be so 
understood in most cases where the the term 
occurs in the revelations of St. John, as well as 
in modern dreams. 

Scenes upon lakes or bodies of water of con- 
siderable size have reference to matters of a pub- 
lic nature, or to one's life in general. 

A flowing river very aptly typifies the hu- 
man race in its continual march along the ages. 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 189 

Passing from one side of a creek, or river, 
or ocean, to the other, represents some great 
change of condition or situation, such as mar- 
riage or death. 

High and rapid running water represents 
excitement or action among the people — the 
public mind greatly agitated upon a certain sub- 
ject. 

Muddy water represents trouble, loss, or 
disappointment in the matter which is the subject 
of the dream. 

Wading in water represents financial or 
other embarrassment. 

Swimming on the surface of water signifies 
success in dealing with the public ; under the 
surface of the water, embarrassments in a certain 
matter known to the public. 

Water about on the ground represents fail- 
ure and disappointment. 

Watercourses and puddles drying up means 
failure of a certain business. 

Objects falling and sinking in water repre- 
sent business losses. 

Persons appearing to fall and sink in water 
foreshadows illness; and if the person so seen 
does not appear to rise again, it signifies death 
to that person, or to whomsoever he or she may 
represent in the dream. Struggling in water 



190 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

signifies great effort to overcome a difficulty, 
which may consist of business or illness. 

Hot water spilled in a house was once ob- 
served to foreshadow an attack of fever. 

The appearance of clear water signifies the 
absence of trouble, or ultimate triumph in the 
matter which is the subject of the dream. 

Practical illustration through simple events, — 
A boy who was attending school dreamed that 
when washing his hands his cuffs were made wet, 
and the water became colored by the wetting of 
the cuffs ; and whereas wet things have an un- 
favorable signification, and colored or impure 
water has also an unfavorable signification, there- 
fore, from the fact that the boy was reduced to a 
lower class in his studies on the following day, 
we may infer that the dream was prophetic of 
that event. 

Water issuing from the ground or rising 
from a well (if clear) signifies success. Riding 
against the current, or over rough waves, has 
reference to opposition from people. 

Illustration of clear water. A clergyman 
said: U I dreamed that I was hunting water and 
found a stream of the nicest and clearest. When 
I told the dream a certain man said I would 
have success ; that the Lord would pour out His 
grace like a stream of clear water in that dry, 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 191 

barren country, which proved true, for I had a 
fine meeting, and several persons joined the 
church at that time." 

Watermelons have reference to business, 
and there is a disagreement in the experience of 
men in regard to its signification, some saying 
they represent success, while others say they rep- 
resent misfortune. It has not been sufficiently 
reported to enable us to give an opinion upon it. 

Wealth. — A dream of wealth may have 
reference to intellectual acquirements, or it may 
literally signify pecuniary gains; but definite 
sums of money named in dreams are seldom re- 
alized. 

Weapons. — A sword, axe, club or other 
weapon represents force or power, either morally 
or physically. 

First Illustration. — St. John saw the wicked 
slain by the sword of him who sat on a white 
horse, and the sword proceeded out of his mouth, 
consequently their destruction was simply moral 
conversion from a wicked to a righteous class, 
and not the death of the individuals. 

Second Illustration. — A certain mother fore- 
saw the work of a fatal disease among her chil- 
dren in the symbol form of a hideous dwarf, who 
slew her children with an axe. 

The power of offense or defense is indicated 
by the kind of weapon seen. 



192 Dreamer's Teacher and Orieirocritica. 

Weariness or Fatigue signifies great 
anxiety about a certain matter. 

Weddings. — (See Funerals.) 

W t eeping. — To dream of weeping, or to 
awaken in tears, foreshadows grief, illness or 
death. It signifies a cause for its literal fulfill- 
ment. It may have reference to bereavement or 
great misfortune in person or property. 

Although one may dream of weeping for 
joy, yet the signification is the same. 

Wells. — To dream of digging a well has 
reference to efforts to discover and develop new 
truths. 

West. — (See Cardinal Points.) 

Wheat. — (See Grain.) 

Whipping. — The exercise of moral force 
by which the action of one person is controlled 
by another, is often represented in a dream by 
one whipping another. 

Whispering has reference to confidential 
matters, and sometimes to matters which fail 
to attract the attention of the public. 

Whistling. — A dream of whistling has been 
known to foreshadow a marriage proposal. 

Wife. — A business or matter which has 
occupied much of a man's attention, may appear 
in the character of his wife. But when a man 
dreams of his own wife the signification depends 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 193 

much upon the mental and physical relations 
existing between them. If the wife be an invalid 
and a burden to him, she will represent a busi- 
ness matter which is very troublesome and un- 
profitable ; but her appearance to him in a dream 
would have a very different signification while 
she was in good health and filling the place of a 
good and true wife. 

Whereas "man" and "woman" represent 
respectively "good" and "evil," therefore to 
dream of seeing the wife of any certain man sig- 
nifies the reverse of what that certain man singi- 
fies. For illustration : A man who is a physi- 
cian will represent remedies for disease ; but to 
dream of seeing and joining hands, or conversing 
with his wife, will foreshadow the death of one 
whom the dreamer is somewhat interested in. 
Or to dream of conversing with the wife of an 
attorney would signify loss or misfortune by the 
law. The rule may be applied in a similar man- 
ner to all professions and occupations, every man 
representing that for which he is most distin- 
guished, whether it be in a profession, occupa- 
tion, crime, or peculiar trait of character, and 
his wife representing the evil side of the same 
matter. The exceptions to this rule would be in 
cases where the wife was the most distinguished 
of the two, and then she would represent what 
13 



194 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

she herself was most distinguished for. We 
must also not forget that some dreams are not 
symbolical, but must be taken in their literal 
sense. 

Wind has reference to the action of the hu- 
man mind — public opinion. Cold wind has ref- 
erence to the frowns of the world which one may 
suffer from — the absence of sympathy. The ac- 
tion of the human mind will ultimately destroy 
the monarchical system of government, and it 
was so foreshadowed to Nebuchadnezzar by the 
wind carrying away the fragments of the toes of 
the image after it had been broken up. Excite- 
ment and agitation of the human mind is often 
represented by both wind and high and rapid 
running water. (See Air or Atmosphere.) 

Wind-mill. — A wind-mill represents an 
extensively advertised scheme for swindling the 
public; a lottery, or the like of it. 

Wings generally have reference to divisions 
of countries. In connection with other matters, 
we might give many illustrations of this fact. 

Wolves. — (See Animals.) 

Woman. — Woman, in contradistinction to 
man, when not distinguished by profession, occu- 
pation, trait of character, etc., represents that 
which is evil. 



Dream and Vision Symbols Defined. 195 

To dream of seeing a woman not so distin- 
guished foreshadows the threatening presence of 
evil in one of its many forms. If a woman ap- 
pears to converse with or touch you, you will not 
escape suffering, loss or misfortune. 

Old women are often seen in connection 
with a failing or unprofitable business. Young 
and vigorous women represent the more active 
and transient evils. 

There are, however, exceptions in regard to 
the definition of women. John the Revelator 
saw the Primitive Christian Church represented 
by a woman clothed with the sun. He also fore- 
saw the Roman Church represented by a woman 
on a scarlet-colored beast ; and again he foresaw 
the Millenial Church represented by a bride 
adorned for her husband. But we will make a 
short digression to state that organized bodies of 
people, under whatever name, become corrupt, 
and history proves that religion furnishes no ex- 
ception to this rule. Organization is no part of 
true religion, but it may properly be styled the 
secular attachment to religion ; therefore, women 
who have been seen in visions representing or- 
ganized churches are, perhaps, not an exception 
to the definition of evil, because evil has invari- 
ably fastened itself upon religion by the means 
of church organization. 



196 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

Wood. — To dream of lumber or firewood 
has thus far appeared to be fortunate dreams. 
In one case a wooden rule signified a good rule 
of conduct. 

Words. — For words heard, see Speaking. 

Worms have reference to business which is 
going ill, and sometimes to difficulties and dis- 
agreements between men in regard to business, 
or to waste of property in bad management of 
business. Worms for angling will, of course, not 
have the same signification. 

Wreath. — A wreath seen in a dream ap- 
pears to have the same signification which is ac- 
corded to it by society, namely : honors or re- 
spect — provided it be a laurel wreath. 

First Illustration. — A remarkable dream by 
Cicero is on record, deserving of attention. At 
the time of his flight from Rome he lodged for 
a night in the villa of a friend, where he dreamed 
that, as he seemed to be wandering, disconsolate, 
in a lonely place, C. Marius, with his fasces 
wreathed with laurel, accosted him and demanded 
why he was so melancholy, and when he an- 
swered that he was driven out of his country by 
violence, Marius took him by the hand, and bid- 
ding him be of good courage, ordered the next 
lictor to take him to his monument, telling him 
that he should find safety. The monument here 



Dream and Visions Symbol Defined. 197 

mentioned was a temple, built by Marius and 
dedicated to Honor and Virtue, and because 
built by him out of the spoils of conquest, was 
called " Marius' Monument." Now it was in 
this place that, some years after the dream, the 
decree was passed in proper form for the full 
restoration of Cicero to his former honor and 
greatness. 

Second. — But, on the contrary, it is related 
by Herodatus that a person of remarkable stat- 
ure and beauty twice expostulated with Xerxes 
for wavering in his resolution in regard to the 
invasion of Greece, in consequence of the sugges- 
tions of Artabanus, who had urged the danger 
of the expedition ; and on his final determination 
to undertake the war, the wreath of an olive tree, 
whose branches covered the earth, is described 
to have crowned him in intimation of victory, as 
the magi misinterpreted the symbol. 

The case of Xerxes, like that of Ahab, king 
of Israel, is exceptional in the fact that they were 
urged on to destruction by supernatural counsel. 
But in regard to the wreath, I am unprepared to 
state whether this be an exception, or that an 
olive wreath has a signification the reverse of 
laurel. 



198 Dreamer's Teacher and Onerocritica. 



DEFINITIONS BY COKKESPONDENTS. 

Among my many correspondents while pub- 
lishing The Dream Investigatory there were some 
who, while expressing their conviction of a true 
foreshadowing of events in dreams, also expressed 
a doubt of the existence of a language, common 
or general in its application to the dreams 
of all persons. Mr. A. P. M. was one who ex- 
pressed such doubts; but he added that in his 
own dreams snakes always meant enemies ; climb- 
ing trees, chopping wood, husking corn, gather- 
ing grain, seeing the moon shining, always meant 
some elevation in the affairs of his fellow-men ; 
but being in cellars or privies, or clad in torn or 
soiled garments, has always meant some loss of 
good name through slander or other cause. 

He further added that he could tell of hun- 
dreds of cases in which his dreams symbolically 
foreshadowed events or things which were un- 
derstood by himself before their occurrence. 
And he mentioned one case which recently oc- 
curred, as follows : " I dreamed a front tooth 
came out. I said in the morning I will hear of 
the death of a friend. That night, at midnight, 
I was called up with the announcement of a 
friend's death." 






Definitions by Correspondents. 199 

Thus we see from the foregoing, although 
the gentleman starts out by expressing a doubt 
as to the fact of a common language in dreams, 
yet in the dream just narrated, and also in the 
definitions given by him, the reader will perceive 
a strong point in support of the truth of it ; for 
by reference to our definitions it will be per- 
ceived that we gave the same interpretation for 
teeth as he has given ; and he has given the 
same for snakes as has been given by three or 
four correspondents during the same month which 
this was received. 



200 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 



DIFFICULTIES IN DREAM INTERPRE- 
TATION. 

Opinions of matters and things are formed 
from such related circumstances as are presented 
to the mind. Those opinions may have been 
foreshadowed in dreams, and yet they may or 
may not be the truth. This fact constitutes one 
of the chief difficulties in our efforts to interpret 
dreams, because it is not always the absolute fact 
that is foreshadowed, but only what will appear 
to be the fact at some future time. 

Our hopes and fears are also foreshadowed, 
and are often cutely presented in symbolic forms, 
and yet they are liable to prove false. Or, in 
other words, the foreshadowing is previous to the 
hopes or fears, and simply reveals a future state 
of mind rather than the true fact. 

Dreams are also often conditional warnings 
or promises, given in answer to secret or unex- 
pressed intentions in regard to business or other 
matters; and when such intentions are aban- 
doned there is, of course, no fulfillment of the 
dream, and consequently no evidence to any per- 
son, except the one who entertained the secret 
thoughts, that there was a foundation for the 
dream. But in such cases we find the most valu- 



Difficulties in Dream Interpretation. 201 

able part of dream knowledge, because the result 
is conditional, and the intention may be aban- 
doned when it has not a favorable promise. 

Some dreams have but few points; it is, 
therefore, difficult to discover the subject of such 
dreams. Others are so vague and obscure that 
it requires a keen perception of resemblance to 
discover their application. And, furthermore, 
there are trifling dreams that are both symboli- 
cal and literal, and there is difficulty in distin- 
guishing between the symbolical and literal 
parts, and there are also dreams produced from 
physiological causes, etc. Then we have the 
theory of lying spirits, which has some evidence 
for its support, but which we yet hope may be 
otherwise explained. But after making due al- 
lowance for the difficulties before mentioned, 
and all others which remain to be discovered, 
we yet have valuable truth remaining, and we 
may hope that a more thorough knowledge of 
the subject will enable us to separate the truth 
from all its surrounding difficulties. 



202 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritica. 



THE IMPOKTANCE OF FOKEKNOWLEDGE. 

Foreknowledge is important at all stages of 
human life, but most valuable in early life when 
the time arrives for the decision of matters af- 
fecting the remainder of one's earth life ; such, 
for instance,, as the selection of a profession, oc- 
cupation, life companion, etc. 

We have no doubt but all persons who are 
subject to dream influences have their future 
foreshadowed in their dreams, and sometimes 
conditional promises or warnings in regard to 
certain intentions which they have in mind. 
But the priceless, heaven-sent warnings gener- 
ally fall unheeded upon the beclouded mind, and 
the victims pass blindly on to fill out their sad 
history. 

The male members of our race, at the pres- 
ent day, seldom give a serious thought to a 
dream, however vivid it may have been ; but 
the female members are more sensitive to the 
intuitional and spiritual influences, especially in 
their waking state; and therefore impressive 
dreams are not so readily dismissed from their 
minds. If it is a whim, it is not wholly an old 
woman's whim, as many are disposed to desig- 
nate it. Young women often ponder seriously 



The Importance of Foreknowledge, 203 

upon their dreams, hoping thereby to lift the 
veil which shrouds the future of their lives, to 
take a peep into the store-house of fate, hoping 
that they may discover what is laid up there for 
them ; or, perchance, to discover conditional ills 
which might be avoided. They know that a yea 
or nay, a smile or a frown at a propitious mo- 
ment, determines their fate for weal or woe for 
the remainder of their lives. They are also 
aware of the fallibility of human judgment in 
such cases. Therefore, it is not strange nor 
wrong that they heed their intuitional prompt- 
ings and strive to read the language of their 
dreams. 

With marriage in prospect, a person will 
dream of rings, gloves, crossing streams, passing 
over fences, dying, etc. The surrounding con- 
ditions which appear in the dream will some- 
times vaguely foreshadow the happiness or misery 
which is destined to follow that event. 

One young lady dreamed of wading across 
the Atlantic Ocean. She was then betrothed, 
and she was soon afterward married and all 
turned out well. 

An old lady once gave us a scrap of her 
history in connection with a dream which she 
had received in her younger years. She was 
somewhat reserved in reference to the causes 



204 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

which produced the state of mind which led to 
the dream, but enough was told to convey the 
idea that she had, while young, met with love's 
disappointment, and while overwhelmed with 
grief from its effects she slept, and dreamed that 
she was on the banks of a stream and a man 
came and assisted her, and they walked together 
on a log across the stream. She noticed the ap- 
pearance of the man and the clothes that he had 
on. When she awoke she did not understand 
the meaning of the dream, and attached no im- 
portance to it ; but it had been very vivid and 
was indelibly impressed upon her mind. After 
many years passed she met another acceptable 
suitor, and they were married, but the memory 
of the dream was buried so deeply in her mind 
that it was not recalled until other years had 
passed, and the lengthening shadows of the after- 
noon of life was creeping around them, when one 
day the husband purchased an overcoat, and, on 
entering his own house, the memory of the dream 
scene, like light from a dark place, suddenly 
flashed up in the wife's mind. There stood be- 
fore her, in the person of her husband and the 
new coat, the reality of the dream-picture of 
more than thirty years before. 

It may be observed here that the foregoing 
case is in accordance with our definition concern- 
ing crossing a stream. 



The Importance of Foreknowledge. 205 

It also furnishes an illustration of Rule 1st, 
that when the mind is intensely occupied with a 
subject, the future of that subject will be called 
up in dreams or visions, and when overwhelmed 
with grief for any cause, there are guardian an- 
gels who come with words or pictures of conso- 
lation, provided there is consolation for the in- 
dividual in the future of earth life. 



206 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 



ITrom the St. Louis Globe -Democrat. 

THE MIND IN SLEEP. 

Singular Breams Which Seem to the Superstitious to 
Have Some Prophetic Significance, 

Sometimes dreams appear to have some real 
significance. Prophetic dreams have occurred 
at times which foreshadowed coming events with 
considerable clearness. Thus, Galen relates the 
case of a patient who dreamed that one of his 
legs had been turned into stone. He was shortly 
afterwards paralyzed in the same member. Ma- 
caria dreamed that he had a severe pain in his 
throat. When he awoke he was well, butjduring 
the day had an attack of quinsy. Forbes Win- 
slow relates a case in which, before an attack of 
apoplexy, the patient thought in his dreams that 
he was being scalped by Indians. Hammond 
relates the case of a lady who had an attack of 
epilepsy, preceded by the following singular 
dreams : 

" She had gone to bed feeling somewhat fa- 
tigued with the labors of the day, which had con- 
sisted in attending three or four morning recep- 
tions, winding up with a dinner party. She had 
scarcely fallen asleep when she dreamed that an 



The Mind in Sleep. 207 

old man clothed in black approached, holding an 
iron crown of great weight in his hands. As he 
came nearer she perceived that it was her father, 
who had been dead several years, but whose fea- 
tures she distinctly recollected. Holding the 
crown at arm's length, he said : ' My daughter, 
during my lifetime I was forced to wear this 
crown ; death relieved me of the burden, but it 
now descends to you/ Saying which, he placed 
the crown upon her head and disappeared grad- 
ually from her sight. Immediately she felt a 
great weight and an intense feeling of constric- 
tion in her head. To add to her distress she 
imagined that the rim of the crown was studded 
on the inside with sharp points which wounded 
her forehead so that the blood streamed down 
her face. She awoke with agitation, excited, but 
felt nothing. Looking at the clock on the man- 
tel-piece, she found she had been in bed exactly 
thirty-five minutes. She returned to bed and 
again fell asleep, but was again awakened by a 
similar dream. This time the apparition re- 
proached her for not being willing to wear the 
crown. She had been in bed this last time over 
three hours before awaking. Again she fell 
asleep, and again at broad daylight she was awak- 
ened by a light dream. She now got up, took a 
bath, and proceeded to dress herself with her 



208 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

maid's assistance. Recalling the particulars of 
her dream, she recollected that she had heard her 
father say one day that in his youth, while being 
in England, his native country, he had been sub- 
ject to epileptic convulsions consequent on a fall 
from a tree, and that he had been cured by hav- 
ing the operation of trephining performed by a 
distinguished London surgeon. Though by no 
means superstitious, the dreams made a deep im- 
pression upon her, and her sister entering the 
room at the time, she proceeded to detail them to 
her. While thus engaged she suddenly gave a 
loud scream, became unconscious, and fell upon 
the floor in a true epileptic convulsion. This 
paroxysm was not a very severe one. It was 
followed in about a week by another, and, strange 
to say, this was preceded, as the other, by the 
dream of her father placing an iron crown on her 
head and of pain being thereby produced. Since 
then several months have elapsed, and she has 
had no other attack." 

In reference to the foregoing, I wish to call 
attention to the very unfair treatment which this 
subject receives at the hands of some newspaper 
editors. In some cases, finding themselves un- 
der the necessity of narrating facts of interest to 
their readers, they treat the facts with contempt 
by saying they " seem to the superstitious to have 



The Mind in Sleep. 209 

some prophetic significance" That which con- 
sists of a full demonstration to all sensible per- 
sons should not be presented under the head of 
that which has only a seeming reality to the su- 
perstitious. And the vast influence which news- 
papers possess in molding the public mind, 
makes it the duty of all editors to present the 
truth fairly and in accordance with the facts 
which are before them or are accessable to them. 



14 



210 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 



A REVELATION THAT WAS NOT A DREAM. 

Many learned men of the present day deny 
all foreknowledge, except inferences from known 
causes or conditions. We often find them exer- 
cising as much credulity in their overstrained 
claim of coincidences as the opposite class do in 
believing too much. And in our efforts to con- 
vince that class of persons of the truth of dream 
revelations, we may gain a point by proving any 
revelation possible. 

In Dio Lewis' Monthly, Vol. 1, p. 339, he 
relates an experience happening more than forty 
years ago, in a trip to the Western States from 
Central New York. Under the head of "A 
strange Mystery," he gives the following : 

"I wish to turn aside, just here, to relate 
one of the strangest incidents which has come 
under my observation. It is no part of my story 
of travel, but I cannot doubt but that it will 
puzzle and interest you, as it has puzzled and 
deeply interested me. While I have never been 
able to believe in modern spiritualism, the inci- 
dent I am about to relate led me to believe (and 
since then this belief has been greatly strength- 
ened) that there are certain invisible forces at 
work among us, which have not been generally 



A Revelation that was not a Dream, 211 

recognized ; that these forces, or this force, 
passes through space as freely as the command 
to move passes from the brain to the muscles of 
the arm. 

"While we were in Cleveland, waiting for 
the steamer to put off and take on freight, we be- 
came acquainted with a Dr. Alexander Burritt, 
who was waiting to embark on our steamer for 
some point up the lake. This gentleman after- 
wards became professor in a medical college in 
Cleveland, and when I was practicing my pro- 
fession in Buffalo, some years later, he came 
down from Cleveland to pay me a visit. His 
visit being ended, he bade me i good-by ' at about 
7 o'clock in the evening. The steamer on which 
he was to sail to Cleveland was the i G. P. Grif- 
fith/ The hour of her departure was 8 o'clock, 
or on the arrival of the train from the east. 
About 9 o'clock Prof. Burritt came back into 
my office, and after listening to my ejaculations, 
said : 

A CURIOUS TELEGRAM. 

" 1 1 received, after I got on the steamer and 
into my state-room, a telegram from a friend in 
Cleveland, to the effect that the steamer would 
be lost to-night, with all on board.' 

" Of course I was greatly puzzled, and rather 
disposed to treat his statement as a joke. But I 



212 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

soon saw that my intelligent and very sober- 
minded friend was in a very serious mood. I 
said: 

" ' Prof. Burritt, I am astonished. Assum- 
ing that you are sane, you could not be more 
mysterious. Pray explain yourself/ 

"He then made the following remarkable 
statement: ' In Cleveland I have a lady patient 
who is extremely nervous and neuralgic. I dis- 
covered by accident that putting my hands upon 
her head relieved her neuralgia, which was often 
so severe as nearly to distract her. A still more 
wonderful discovery was made, viz : That she 
can communicate the fact of her suffering to me 
through a distance of miles, and that I can re- 
lieve her without a visit in person. It seems to 
me that I project a certain influence from my 
brain through the air and into her brain. Of 
course this is speculation ; but it is not specula- 
tion that I can relieve her, even when we are 
separated by long distances. This is a fact. I 
have done it scores of times. Generally I note 
the time when I send the message, and she notes 
the time when she receives relief, and there is not 
the shadow of a doubt that something which goes 
from me reaches her. She has sent to me a num- 
ber of messages asking relief during the week I 
have been in your house/ 



A Revelation that was not a Dream. 213 

HIS EXPLANATION. 

" i How are the messages received, and how 
do you know they come from her?' I asked. 

" ' When a thought comes to me suddenly 
and without any cause, and at the same moment 
I think strongly of her, I infer that the thoughts 
come from her. I am sure that she has twice 
warned me against an approaching danger. 
When I was arranging my satchel, umbrella and 
and some packages in my state-room this even- 
ing, she said to me through the two hundred 
miles just as plainly as if she had been standing 
by my side : " Don't go on this steamer to-night ; 
it will be lost, with all on board." } 

" We discussed the strange theme till mid- 
night, and when Prof. Burritt bade me good- 
night he said: 'I fear we shall hear bad news 
from the Griffith to-morrow.' 

THE DREADFUL, NEWS. 

"The next day brought the dreadful an- 
nouncement that the G. P. Griffith had been lost 
with more than two hundred beings, men, women 
and children. It was the most frightful of all 
the great lake disasters. 

" Do I believe that Prof. Burritt's Cleveland 
friend saw, with prophetic vision, the destruction 
of the steamer ? I do not. I do believe that 



214 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

one person can communicate with another 
through many miles without the employment of 
visible or tangible means. I believe ' the devil 
is always near when you are talking about him/ 
or that people often telegraph their coming, by 
what may be called the ' spirit telegraph/ 

" Then how did Prof. Burritt learn of the 
coming disaster? I suppose Prof. Burritt did 
receive messages from his remarkable patient. 
Finding that his life had become important to 
her, she was anxious about his safety, and may 
have dispatched to him that anxiety. Very nat- 
urally it took the form in his mind, of the loss of 
the vessel. 

PREMONITIONS. 

" I have made many voyages, and I think I 
have never gone on board for a long voyage 
without a premonition of evil, without the 
thought that I might never see loved friends 
again. During some of these voyages I have 
mentioned this habit of premonition, and found 
that it is very common ; that a great many people 
set out to cross an ocean with the apprehension 
that they may never reach the shore. I presume 
that Prof. Burritt, who, with rare intelligence, 
integrity and goodness, was yet very despondent, 
may have had the usual premonition, and may 
possibly, without a message from his patient, 



A Revelation that was not a Dream. 215 

have been suddenly attacked with fear. And 
when a man gets to telegraphing through the 
air without wires, he is more than likely to be- 
come the victim of many fancies. This prophecy 
of the loss of the G. P. Griffith, which was cer- 
tainly given to me the night before the frightful 
disaster, is not difficult to explain, and without 
appealing to the supernatural." 

Dr. Lewis is a distinguished author, of many 
years' experience. The hundreds of thousands 
of readers of his publications have no doubt been 
much benefitted by his ideas; but he has his 
sphere of usefulness, and when he steps outside 
of that his opinions lose their lucidity, and, like 
Samson shorn of his locks, he is weak like unto 
another man. He says that the prediction in re- 
gard to the loss of the G. P. Griffiths puzzled 
and deeply interested him. But further on he 
says it is not difficult to explain, and he proceeds 
to explain it as a coincidence. We admire his 
honesty in admitting a fact so difficult to recon- 
cile with his theory. We believe, however, that 
few will be willing to accept his theory of coin- 
cidence as a satisfactory explanation of the case. 

— Dream Investigator. 



216 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 



MISCELLANEOUS DKEAM EXPERIENCES. 
THE EDITOR'S DREAM. 

A short time previous to the death of Prin- 
cess Alice, in the year 1878, I dreamed that I 
saw a person who had a London newspaper, and 
there were large black stripes upon the margin 
of it. Oar American papers reported that such 
stripes were upon the margins of London papers 
at the time they announced the death of the 
Princess; therefore I inferred that my dream 
was prophetic, because I very seldom see a Lon- 
don paper, and never saw one in that condition 
except this one which I saw in my dream. 



Mr. D. wrote to the editor of The Bream 
Investigator as follows : " Through some of the 
points gained by reading the Investigator I have 
been able to explain some dreams of years gone 
by, quite satisfactory. I am also convinced that 
what you assert to be true of physical in dreams 
being substituted for moral, intellectual and 
spiritual matters is, in most cases, really the fact, 
although I do think there are exceptions in the 
the general rule ; and, too, no one law will apply 
to every case, and I might cite illustrations of 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 217 

the fact. I do believe in a spirit power in many- 
oases, acting in conjunction with the individual 
when dreaming, and think there are many re- 
markable proofs of it. Hardly a "week passes 
that I do not see illustrations of the fact of a 
spirit power acting in conjunction with mortals, 
either in the waking or sleeping state. 

I will now give the substance of a prophetic 
dream by myself. A few years back there oc- 
curred a very heavy failure in this vicinity, the 
parties being a firm of two partners, both of them 
men of note. I was acquainted with them per- 
sonally. Just before the failure of the house, in 
a dream I saw a rough, craggy mountain, and 
the two partners going down the sides of this 
mountain, clinging to every object they could 
catch hold of — rocks, shrubs, roots and bushes, 
and many times they seemed to fall from one 
rock to another. In the dream I seemed to fol- 
low them down the mountain, far above them, 
soaring through the air over their heads. I was 
at the time fully convinced of the approaching 
failure of the house. " 

president Lincoln's dream. 

It is not generally known that President 
Lincoln once dreamed that he would be assassin- 
ated. While he was neither a professor of re- 



218 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritica. 

ligion, nor even fixed in his belief in one par- 
ticular creed, still he was fond of reading and 
discussing the Bible. On Sunday evenings he 
invariably read a chapter or two from the Scrip- 
tures, and then gave his explanation of it. One 
evening at the White House he read several 
passages from the Old and New Testaments re- 
lating to dreams, to which Mrs. Lincoln and the 
children gave great attention. He began to chat 
with them on the subject of dreams, and said 
that he had been haunted for some days by a 
dream he had had. Of course they all wanted 
him to tell it, though Mrs. Lincoln said she 
didn't believe in dreams in the least, and was as- 
tonished at him. So he proceeded to tell it. 
u About ten days ago I retired one night quite 
late. I had been up waiting for important dis- 
patches from the front, and could not have been 
long in bed when I fell into a slumber, for I was 
very weary. During my slumber I began to 
dream. I thought there was stillness about me, 
and I heard weeping. I thought that I got up 
and wandered down stairs. The same stillness 
was there. As I went from room to room I 
heard moaning and weeping. At length I came 
to the end room, which I entered, and there be- 
fore me was a magnificent dais, on which was a 
corpse. Here there were sentries and a crowd 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 219^ 

of people. I said to one of the soldiers, c Who 
is dead at the White House ?' He answered, 
'The President/ 'How did he die?' I asked. 
'By the hand of an assassin/ was the reply. 
Then I beard a great wailing all over the house, 
and it was so loud it seemed to awaken me. I 
awoke much depressed and slept no more that 
night. Such was my dream." From that time 
until his sad death Mr. Lincoln was haunted 
with the fear of assassination, and Mrs. Lincoln's 
first words after Wilkes Booth had shot him on 
April 14th, were : " His dream was prophetic ! } * 
The remark was not understood then, but whei> 
the story of his dream was subsequently told it 
was explained. — Nashville Liberal, November,. 
1883. 

The foregoing dream of President Lincoln 
was not a symbolical one, but was a foreshadow- 
ing of a scene which was literally fulfilled. But 
when seeking for the discovery of the true source 
of dream inspiration, we may notice a good point 
here. We may observe the ingenuity manifested 
by the intelligence which inspired the dream,, 
presenting the facts in the form of a conversa- 
tion. Mr. Lincoln in his dream seeming to ask 
a question, the answer of which from a symbol 
personage conveyed the knowledge of a great 
event which had previously lain buried in the 



220 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

sealed book of fate. There are also several cases 
in the Revelations of St. John in which a know- 
ledge of the future is presented in answer to cer- 
tain interrogatories, the parties of which are sym- 
bols or angels. 

THE DREAM OF MR. G., OF OREGON. 

Several years ago I had some correspond- 
ence with a gentleman on the Pacific slope. He 
stated (substantially) that he had had many 
strange dreams, and some of them he had writ- 
ten, because he believed there was prophetic 
truth in them. He sent to me a written copy of 
two or three of them. A part of one was as 
follows : 

"I took my companion around the waist 
(the singularity of it was, I did not know wheth- 
er this companion was a male or female, but I 
felt that it was my companion), and said: 'We 
have been friends in life, and shall be friends in 
death ; ' saying so, we turned in an opposite di- 
rection from where the people were, stopped at 
the brink of a deep, dark abyss, and plunged 
•down. We seemed to remain unconscious for a 
few minutes, but then we awoke in a grand and 
beautiful place. Oh, so beautiful ! Words ut- 
terly fail to describe the scene. It seemed we 
stood upon a great elevation, ; could see whole 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 221 

continents and rivers; looked as if we stood 
upon a globe (earth) and could see the whole 
hemisphere ; the light was so mild and pleasant, 
as if the rays of the setting sun were shining 
through colored glass. Calm and peace reigned 
supreme. Oh, such peace ! We both wept for 
joy. I embraced my companion and said : * This 
time destruction came from east to west; next 
time it will come from west to east.' I then 
awoke, while tears continued to flow for some 
time after I awoke." 

About a year after replying to the gentle- 
man's dream letter I was surprised by receipt of 
the following from him : 

"About a month after receipt of your letter 
[the one in reply to his dream] I met with an 
accident that came near terminating my earthly 
career. I was shot with a pistol accidentally. 
The ball penetrated my abdomen. My recovery 
was very doubtful ; and months elapsed before 
I was able to get about." 

Thus we preceive that the rule concerning 
weeping or tears was fully verified in this case. 
And we may also perceive how the other parts 
of the dream come in. In accordance with our 
rules, traits of character, etc., assume material 
forms and attend us as companions. This gen- 
tleman probably has some peculiar trait which 



222 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

was represented by his companion. The dark 
abyss and unconscious condition typified the 
dreadful accident, and the time during which its 
results were uncertain. His position for taking 
in the view of a hemisphere with continents and 
rivers, typified the contemplative state of his 
mind while confined to his bed by the accident. 
Physical and material things represent the men- 
tal and spiritual. His condition brought him 
to the contemplation of the relations of the ma- 
terial to the spiritual worlds. 

Dreams so impressive as this one was, are 
invariably prophetic; and tears, though seem- 
ingly for joy, signify grief; and scenery of inde- 
scribable beauty point to the forced contempla- 
tion of unearthly things ; and the great misfor- 
tune of his life following so soon after the dream, 
and fitting into the several parts of it in accord- 
ance with specific rules of interpretation, point 
unmistakably to this event, as the true subject 
foreshadowed. 

There is another point in this dream which 
we have not yet explained. It is in regard to 
destruction coming from east to west, and next 
time it will come from west to east. I think - 
that signified that he would recover from that 
accident, but that another event (probably an 
accident) will overtake him, from which he will 
not recover. 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 223 

DR. J. CH. MOORE AND HIS DREAM. 

Morley, Mo., May 5, 1884. 
James Monroe, Esq., Editor Investigator, 

Peoria, III. 

Dear Sir : — I have received two or three 
numbers of your valuable journal. I like it, 
inasmuch as it opens up a branch of psychologi- 
cal science that should have been investigated 
sooner. However, I feel that you are in the way 
of Truth. 

You ask for " experiences." I propose to 
send you one, and if you see fit to publish it, I do 
not think that it will be a drawback to the in- 
terest of your (to me) laudable mode of thought, 

I dreamed that I was in my dressing-room, 
making my toilet for the day, and whilst in the 
act of combing my hair, the entire suit seemed to 
come off, leaving me perfectly bald. It made such 
a vivid impression on my mind that I could not 
rest day or night ; and having heard of a lady 
clairvoyant, who was said to be an expert in 
reading dreams, I finally enclosed her one dollar 
and stated my dream to her, and by return mail 
I received the following answer : 

" Dr. Moore : You will soon meet with a 
serious loss. Your horse will die unexpectedly, 
and a lawsuit will go against you." 



224 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

I laughed at the predictions, but within two 
or three weeks I had reason to know that the 
"seeress" knew that there were '^more things 
in heaven and earth than are dreamed of in our 
philosophy," as my favorite horse did die very 
unexpectedly, and a suit I had in court for a num- 
ber of years was decided against me, 

J. Ch. Moore, M. D. 

In regard to the foregoing interpretation, I 
would say that the most perfect spiritual inspira- 
tion is received during suspension of the action 
of the natural mind, as in deep trance or the 
most profound sleep. All stages of wakefulness 
or action of the natural mind, more or less ob- 
scures the gleams of spiritual light which may be 
received; consequently the predictions of all 
mediums and fortune-tellers, although exhibiting 
some gleams of foreknowledge, are, nevertheless, 
unreliable. But it may be claimed that because 
the prediction was fulfilled in the preceding case, 
therefore the truth of the interpretation was de- 
monstrated. But in opposition to such claim, I 
wish to say that imperfect visions of future events, 
like imperfect views of distant objects presented 
before the natural eye, are liable to be confound- 
ed one with another ; so that one is mistaken for 
the other. And such, I believe, was the case in 
the interpretation of Dr. Moore's dream. For 






Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 225 

in this case there is no general rules of dream 
language given by the interpreter, or to be found 
elsewhere, which will indicate, by the dream, one 
of the events named; and with still less truth 
could it signify both of them. I claim to inter- 
pret by rules and definitions, and not by inspira- 
tion ; and if I had been first called upon to give 
an opinion in regard to the interpretation of Dr. 
Moore's dream, I would probably have stated 
that, in accordance with definitions, the combing 
of hair had reference to the exercise of one's 
duties in a profession ; and the vivid impression, 
such as to deprive one of rest, day or night, fur 
a time afterward, signified consequences of the 
highest importance, and probably of a dreadful 
nature. In short, he would at least cease to con- 
tinue the exercise of his profession. 

And whereas Dr. Moore committed suicide 
very soon after sending to me the foregoing ac- 
count of his dreadful dream, I have no donbt but 
the dream was a foreshadowing of that dreadful 
event. 

DREAM OF MR. E. OF MO. 

I have a friend who is a very good dream* r 
but a very poor believer in his dreams, conse- 
quently but few of his dreams get outside of h s 
own brain. His dreams generally relate to bus- 

15 



226 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

iness, with which his mind is chiefly occupied. 
But his mind occasionally makes excursions into 
the domain of politics, religion, and great na- 
tional affairs, and, in accordance with our rule, 
his dreams also occasionally run in a like chan- 
nel. There was one which he related, as follows : 
u I stood on the bank of a river, and there was 
a great tree with very broad branches standing 
there. On the branches of the tree there stood 
a man and a woman with joined hands. The 
current of the river was carrying the earth away 
from beneath the tree, and the tree sank gradu- 
ally down into the water, while it still maintained 
its perpendicular position. The force of the wind 
drove it up the river against the current, and it 
continued to sink until it passed out of sight 
beneath the surface of the river. The man and 
the woman maintained their positions in the tree 
until they, while uttering a loud shriek, also dis- 
appeared beneath the water." 

In this age of the world such dreams are 
iavariably ascribed to the wild and meaningless 
fancies of the unguided thoughts, while many of 
them are just as important as the few ancient 
ones which have been so carefully preserved. 

Now let us apply the same rules to the fore- 
going dream that we would apply to all other 
dreams or visions, either ancient or modern, 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 227 

namely : Let the running river represent the 
passing tide of humanity in its ceaseless march 
along the ages; let the tree with its many 
branches represent the whole system of our pres- 
ent civilization, including government, churches, 
societies, relations of labor and capital, etc., etc. ; 
let the man and the woman with joined hands 
represent respectively Good and Evil going hand 
in hand, as we find it in our present civilization ; 
let the wind represent the action of the human 
mind in its relations to the various branches of 
our civilization; then let us contemplate the un- 
paralleled mental activity prevailing throughout 
the world at the present time. ' We may then be 
able to perceive why the intelligences of the 
spiritual world will reply to the inquiring mind 
of a thoughtful man by showing him a vision of 
the moving tide of our race undermining the old 
system of things, and they will soon sink it out 
of sight, while they will rear a better system in 
its place. 

The foregoing is only a repetition in another 
form of what the ancient prophets foresaw, and 
which one described as old things passed away 
and all things had become new — replaced by the 
new. 

I am aware that many will view the fore- 
going as a fanciful application of that which 



228 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

might be equally as well applied to other sub- 
jects ; but such a supposition is a grave mistake, 
which ought to be perceptible from a moment's 
consideration. Let it be observed that I have 
certain fixed definitions for the nouns " River, 
Tree, Man, Woman, and Wind," which occur in 
this dream. Those definitions were not made 
specially for this case, but for all dreams or vis- 
ions, both ancient and modern, wherever said 
terms are found in them. And that number of 
terms with fixed difinitions could not be applied 
to any fanciful case without a clash somewhere. 
A chance or coincident agreement or harmony 
between that number of terms so defined in an 
instrument of writing, would be as improbable 
as the chance of opening a combination lock 
without the proper directions. 

A DREAM WARNING OF DEATH, BY MRS. RILEY. 

" Just before my son died he dreamed he 
was lying in bed, and that I and a lady came in, 
and the lady said, i Ed. believes in St. John, 
don't he ? ' and I said, ( Of course he does ; don't 
you, Ed?' Then St. John came in and got on 
the bed and shook hands with him, and said, 
* Now you are helped/ and then went away. 
That was a week before he died. 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 229 

" Shortly after my son's death, my daughter, 
eight years of age, dreamed that on the sidewalk 
was a ladder leading up to the clouds, and a Jew 
was attending to it. She asked if she could go 
up, and the Jew said ' yes f so she and mamma 
and baby went up with the Jew, but the Jew was 
sent down. Up there the little girl saw God 
standing in a beautiful place, and at one side sat 
my son, Edgar, and at the other side sat my son- 
in-law ; and my child said to God, i Can Ed. and 
Julius [the son-in-law] come home with me?' 
and He said, ' Not yet; but I have something 
for you/ but she forgot what it was. Six months 
after that dream I lost my husband and another 
son. Their deaths were three weeks apart." 

Another from the same lady was as follows : 
" I dreamed that I was sitting in the back par- 
lor one evening, with my face towards the front 
room, when I saw a pair of hands stretched out 
towards the table. I looked to see who it was, 
and saw my son Edgar, who had died three 
months before. He came to me with outstretched 
hands, looking well, and dressed in the same 
clothing as when on earth. I said, ' are you 
happy ? ? and he answered me in these words : 
' Mother, go and tell the unbelievers that the 
spirit can return, and in bodily form/ I said to 
my daughter, i Run and tell all the neighbors to 



230 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritica. 

come, that Eddy is back with us/ Then my 
other daughter came in with a broom in her 
hand, and she did not speak to him, and his face 
flushed up. Then my mother came in, and I 
saw that she was afraid, and I said, * Mother, do 
you not see Eddy? Why don't you speak to 
him, or shake hands with him ? ' And she held 
out her hand and Eddy touched her forefinger, 
and she sat down next to my husband. Just 
then a butterfly flew in and I caught it by the 
wing. Then a darning-needle [dragon fly] flew 
in, and I caught that also. I said, t that belongs 
to the doctor/ I said to Ed., c I will go and 
give them to him/ I went, and when I was 
calling him to come and get them I heard the 
front door slam, and I looked around and there 
was Eddy going down the street. I followed 
him and called to the people to look ; that Eddy 
had come back; and when I looked for him 
again, the people said to me, ( there, he has gone/ 
I said, ' never mind, he will come back again/ 

" The doctor who attended my son in his 
last illness was going with his family to Florida. 
My daughter was to go with them, and the time 
for going was three days after the last described 
dream, but the dream caused me to change my 
mind in regard to her going, and she remained 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 231 

at home. The doctor and his wife went, but he 
died three days after he returned home." 

The foregoing is not wholly in the words of 
the lady as sent to us, but it is substantially the 
same, somewhat abbreviated. 

We publish these because we can better il- 
lustrate our subject by so doing. Dreams have 
a meaning, and we may notice in this case, what 
we may notice in all other cases, that remark- 
able events are found connected with remark- 
able dreams. 

Members of families whose history is dotted 
over with remarkable events, will have remark- 
able dreams corresponding to them. 

The lady who sent the account of these 
dreams has been terribly afflicted by the hand of 
death in her family. These afflictions have been 
foreshadowed by dreams to herself and other 
members of her family. The revelations, as is 
usual in such cases, were given in a language of 
symbols, and much obscured by coming in con- 
tact with ideas and prejudices of the natural mind. 

Words heard spoken in a dream in some 
cases are literally fulfilled, but generally they are 
irrelevant, and only represent action in relation 
to the matter which is the subject of the dream. 
The latter is the fact in the foregoing dreams. 



232 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

The dream of seeing the apparition of de- 
ceased persons often foreshadows death, but 
there are many exceptions to this rule. The 
record of experiences is too limited to enable us 
to state much positively upon this point, but we 
believe that to dream of seeing the apparition of 
one known to be living, or a person not recog- 
nized, does not foreshadow death ; but we think 
one recognized as connected with religions mat- 
ters, as was the case in the young man's dream 
of St. John in the foregoing dreams, clearly fore- 
shadowed death. With me that opinion would 
be strengthened by the appearance of the mother 
and another woman in the apartment at the same 
time. 

I believe that to dream of seeing the appa- 
rition of a person whom we know in our sleep 
to be deceased, foreshadows death ; and that 
opinion would be greatly strengthened provided 
the person whose apparition was seen was mostly 
distinguished in our minds for having died. 
This appears to have been the case with the 
dreams of both the lady and her young daughter. 
Their dreams most assuredly had reference to the 
two deaths which followed. But with the little 
daughter the revelation appeared to be much 
mixed up with her early religious training. 






Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 233 

A mother often represents death, as I have 
often observed, and in accordance with this idea 
we may notice in the lady's dream that her 
mother touched the apparition of her deceased 
son, and then sat down by the husband. This 
appears significant in view of the fact that the 
husband and another son died within three or 
four months of that time. 

ILLNESS FORESHADOWED. 

A young man dreamed that he was lying 
on a lounge at his own home, and that some one 
was rattling at the front door as though trying to 
get in. A friend of his went to the door and re- 
turned very much frightened. Very soon after 
he had received this dream he was attacked with 
a dangerous illness, and he occupied the lounge 
which appeared in his dream, for his bed during 
his illness. 

HOME EXPERIENCE. 

I, together with my family, reside in the 
country, and a lady who was bQarding with us 
dreamed of a storm of wind, accompanied with 
much noise. The funnel-shaped vortex of the 
storm was visible, and fire was seen about its 
edges. 

Two days after the foregoing dream was re- 
ceived my wife dreamed that a very dilapidated 



234 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

old dwelling-house, which was standing in our 
neighborhood, was on fire, and people were put- 
ting the beds of the family upon the top of the 
house, and calling upon all persons to assist in 
extinguishing the flames. Wife said that I re- 
fused to assist. In reference to these dreams I 
would say that the wind is defined as represent- 
ing the action of the human mind ; fire repre- 
sents strife, contention, or public excitement 
upon any subject, and House is defined in vari- 
ous ways, one of which is, (i an organization 
where a number of persons act in concert to ac- 
complish a certain purpose." Then we would 
have the outline of the interpretation of the two 
dreams as follows : There will be strife, conten- 
tion, or public excitement. It will be in some 
way connected with an organized body of people. 

Now for its fulfillment. A religious revival 
was commenced immediately after the last dream 
occurred, and certainly fulfilled the dreams in 
accordance with the defined rules given. 

The mental excitement of the neighborhood 
as directed to the revival was fitly represented 
by the vortex of the storm, and the fire around 
the edges aptly typified the strife which was 
created where the revival came in contact with 
the gentile world. And must we say that the 
old dilapidated building represented orthodox 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 235> 

Christianity of the present day, and that I re- 
fused to assist in extinguishing the flames which 
were consuming it? That is undoubtedly true- 

mrs. Griffith's dreams. 

To the Editor of the Dream Investigator : — 
Sometime early in the summer of '83 I saw in a 
dream a man, an old acquaintance, on the top of 
his house tearing off the roof. I called up to- 
him to ask why he was doing it. He said he 
was going to stop a leak. But I felt as if he was 
making a very much larger leak. I said, as your 
roof is almost new there cannot be much of a 
leak, but you are making it so large you will 
need help to mend it. The next day I felt as if 
this dream had a sad meaning — it came w T ith an 
impression ot warning that this man was going 
to do something to break up his old home. 

The Second Dream. — A few weeks after this 
I saw, in another dream, this man again on his 
house in another place, making the shinglesily 
as before. I called to him as before, and he an- 
swered me as in the first dream. I again felt as 
if I must caution him, and did so. He laughed, 
and said it was only a dream and could have no 
meaning. 

But I was not through with it. 



236 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritiea. 

The Third Dream came in February, 1884. 
I saw a large folded paper. I then saw it un- 
folded. It had the appearance of a deed, but 
my impression made me feel that it was not a 
deed. When it was unfolded I saw a kind of a 
colored stamp as if a legal seal. It had no 
printed form, but all in large handwriting. 

In two weeks after this third dream this 
man came into my room with apparently this 
identical paper. It was a mortgage he had given 
on his house, and he wanted witnesses. Now, 
please remember he pulled off the shingles in two 
places, so he has given another, a second mort- 
gage. He has had need of help to mend the 
leak, and it is not finished yet. Respectfully, 

E. G. Griffith. 

Remarks on the preceding. — In the foregoing 
dreams of Mrs. Griffith we may notice that the 
first two were typical, and the third was literal, 
and all three proved to be prophetic. A mort- 
gage often destroys the family home as the ab- 
se%3e of shingles will destroy the house itself. 
The former is properly typical of the latter. 

grandma's rhymes about six little graves. 

To the Editor of the Religio- Philosophical 
Journal: I would like to give your many read- 
ers some of my experiences in dreams, clairvoy- 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 237 

ance, and clairaudience. I was born near Roch- 
ester, Monroe County, New York, and remained 
thereabouts until twenty-five years of age. From 
childhood I have been a dreamer, having pro- 
phetic visions in my sleep, sometimes symbolical, 
ofttimes literal, being fully verified. The first 
that I now recall distinctly occurred when I was 
about nine years of age. I had never known the 
blessing of grand parents on either side of the 
house, they having passed out before my entrance 
on the stage of action. I doubtlessly had heard 
them mentioned, but knew nothing of their 
mode of dress, speech, habits, etc. I was living 
at this time with my eldest sister, twenty miles 
from my father's, when one night in a dream I 
saw my grandmother on my mother's side. She 
sat down on the bed beside me, turned her gown 
very carefully up across her lap, smoothing it 
out, and at the same time lighted a pipe and com- 
menced to smoke. After a moment or two she 
took the pipe from her mouth with the left hand, 
and with the sight she stroked my curls, looking 
straight into my eyes. She said with slow mea- 
sured accent : 

" Six little graves beside of mine, 
Perhaps there '11 be in course of time. ,, 

In the morning I told sister I had seen 
grandma Richmond in the night. She asked me 



238 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

to describe her. On doing so she said the des- 
cription was perfect in every particular. She 
smoked in her old age ; always folded up her 
gown very precisely before lighting her pipe. 
Her <eyes were extremely black and sharp, and 
she invariably stroked the children on the hair 
when talking to them. Of course, the rhyming 
prophecy, time alone determined the truthful- 
ness of that. Thirty years were required for its 
fulfillment. There is now in the Quaker bury- 
ing ground in Rolin, Lenawee County, Michigan, 
six little graves side by side with the old lady's 
grave : two of my own darlings and four of a 
lister's, ranging from two months to twelve years 
of age. 

The vision occurred eight years before the 
advent of modern Spiritualism. 

A. E. N. Rich. 

A history of a great variety of experiences 
will assist us much in forming a correct opinion 
of mental and spiritual philosophy, and of the 
probability of immortality, therefore the forego- 
ing is offered for consideration. 

A DREAM OF WEALTH. 

Walnut Grove, in Walton County, is enjoy- 
ing a remarkable sensation. Among the most 
respected residents of the place is Miss Laura 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 239 

Shelnut, who has passed the meridian of youth, 
but remains an active participant in society 
events. About a week ago she had a dream. 
Before her eyes was spread the panorama of the 
surrounding country. A young man, elegantly 
dressed, and ornamented with a red neck tie, 
stepped up to her, and pointing out a certain 
spot, told her to dig and wealth would be hers. 
Just then she awoke and the young man was 
gone, but the memory of the dream so troubled 
her that she slept no more that night. Next 
night the dream was substantially repeated. So 
great an impression did it make that she arose 
and went to bed no more that night. The third 
night she again had the dream, which so im- 
pressed her that on the following morning she 
went out and sure enough, at the designated 
spot, about three feet under ground, she found a 
small tin box filled with coined gold. There 
are witnesses both to the finding and digging up 
of the box of gold. The whole community is 
excited over finding the treasure. — St. Louis 
Globe-Democrat. 

The foregoing, in regard to the finding of 
the money, required no interpretation, because it 
was literally fulfilled; but whether the young 
man who was seen was a symbol or not, there 
might be a difference of opinion. Perhaps he 



240 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

represented the appearance of the person who 
buried the money, and wished some deserving 
person to possess it. 

DUNCAN CAMPBELL AT TICONDERODA. 

When the late Dean Stanley was in this 
country he spent an evening with Bishop Wil- 
liams, in Hartford. The conversation turned 
to the subject of the French and Indian war, 
and the Dean displayed great knowledge concern- 
ing the history of those days. At length Ticon- 
deroga was mentioned, and the Englishman 
asked : " Did you ever hear, Bishop, the story of 
Duncan Campbell, of Inveraugh ? Well, there 
happened, shortly after the defeat of Edward the 
Pretender, to be a meeting of gentlemen in the 
west of Scotland, whose conversation turned up- 
on political subjects. It was dangerous ground, 
for part of them were in favor of the family of 
Hanover, and the rest were partisans of Charles 
Stuart. The discussion waxed hot, and at length 
swords were drawn. The quarrel was only ended 
when one of the contestants fell dead. There 
lived at that time, as they do to-day, near the 
place of quarrel, the family of Campbells of In- 
veraugh. Duncan Campbell was then the head 
of the clan, and to him the unfortunate man ap- 
pealed for protection. With the usual hospital- 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 241 

ity of a Highlander the Campbell granted him 
shelter, and swore to defend him in his misfor- 
tunes. The following day the startling news 
came to the chief that the murdered man was 
his own cousin, and that he was sheltering the 
slayer of a kinsman. That night the cousin came 
to Campbell in a dream and demanded of him 
vengeance for his death. The honorable soul of 
the chieftain revolted from any treachery, and 
he told his guest of the dream. Again night 
came, and again the cousin appeared asking for 
retribution. Unable to break his vow, Campbell 
sent his guest away to the mountains under a 
strong escort, and trusted he would at length 
sleep in peace. But at dead of night came that 
ghastly visitor and said, in tones of anger, ' Dun- 
can Campbell, we will meet at Ticonderoga/ 
The Highlander awoke next morning with a 
great feeling of relief. Ticonderoga was a word 
he had never heard, and whether the spirit re- 
ferred to a realm of the other world, or was in- 
venting words to scare him, he neither knew nor 
cared. Years went by, and Duncan Campbell 
found himself a major in the Scotch Rangers un- 
der Abercrombie in the expedition against the 
French on Lake George in the summer of 1758. 
The army, the largest ever assembled in Amer- 
ica up to that time, had sailed down the lake in 
16 



242 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

a thousand boats, and landed near its outlet. 
To the Scotch major the name Ticonderoga, 
against which point the expedition was directed, 
had sounded with an awful and ominous import. 
His colonel, by name Gordon Graham, who 
knew the story, endeavored to cheer his droop- 
ing spirits, but it was with a heavy heart that 
the Highland chieftain prepared his men for the 
attack. The story of that day's disaster is well 
known : how the brave Lord Howe fell early in 
the action ; how the brawny Scotsman attempted 
to scale the breastworks, and how at length the 
retreat was sounded after the loss of two thous- 
and men. Mortally wounded, Duncan Campbell 
was carried from the field, and breathed his last 
in the hospital at Fort Edwards. Just before 
his death he said to Gordon Graham : "As I 
slept last night after the battle, colonel, the spirit 
of my cousin came to me and said, ■ Duncan 
Campbell, we have met at Ticonderoga/ Such," 
said the Dean in conclusion, " is the i ghost story 
of Ticonderoga/ as I have heard it from the 
present Campbells of Inveraugh, the descendants 
of the unfortunate Duncan." 

The bishop had listened with great interest 
to the tale, and at its close, said : "Your story, 
Dean, is new to me, but I now recollect that I 
have seen the grave of Duncan Campbell at Fort 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 243 

Edwards. It is marked by a crumbling slab that 
tells of his death from a wound received in the 
attack on Ticonderoga, July 8, 1758. " 

Thus it happened that one of the only men 
in England who knew the strange story of the 
Scotch major told it, by a peculiar chance, to 
perhaps the only man in America who had ever 
noticed the existence of that neglected grave. — 
Troy Times. 

I can scarcely believe that the shades of the 
departed soul require vengeance for wrongs suf- 
fered while in this life. I think it more proba- 
ble that one destined to a premature or tragical 
end, will, while his mind is excited upon similar 
things, have his own fate pictured out in appro- 
priate style, adapted to the prejudices of the age 
in which he lives. Of such was Duncan Camp- 
bell's case. 

From the Dream Investigator of March, 1885. 
DREAM EXPERIENCE OF MR. M., OF ILLINOIS. 

, Feb., 18, 1884. 



"Mr. James Monroe: Dear Sir — What in- 
terpretation would you give to the following 
dream? I seemed to suddenly realize a great 
responsibility resting upon me. I thought that 
some time ago I had been appointed or elected 
president of the United States by a seeming 



244 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritica. 

proper authority at Washington. Although I 
seemed to know that I was president I was very 
indifferent about it, and paid no attention to it, 
and let some other man — Arthur it seemed — act 
in my place. What seemed to bring me to a 
realizing sense of my duty and responsibility was 
that some parties were talking about the compa- 
rative purity of different governments, and I 
made the assertion that we had the purest gov- 
ernment under the sun, for I had been president 
two years or more, and had not been asked to 
make a single appointment for political reasons, 
or to reward political friends or punish political 
enemies. M." 

Mr. M. was an entire stranger to us. We 
knew nothing of his situation, prospects, or sur- 
roundings, but we replied to his question in re- 
gard to the meaning of his dream, by telliug him 
(substantially) that it signified official duties, 
and that he would probably be elected to some 
office at the then approaching spring elections. 
In reply to this interpretation we received the 
following : 

, February 27, 1884. 

Mr. James Monroe : Dear Sir — Your favor 
received to-day. Your interpretation of my 
dream gives me a little more faith in a dream 
language. Not that I expect to be elected to 






Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 245 

any office, because I will not run for any office. 
But the fact that I have been very earnestly so- 
licited, since writing to you, to run for supervisor 
of our township, also to run for mayor or an 
alderman of our city (in March is our city elec- 
tion), although I have positively refused to allow 
my name used for either place, it does seem as 
though that dream had reference to office, al- 
though I had no thought of such a thing at the 
time. I have neither the time nor inclination to 
bother with office of any kind, and have posi- 
tively refused to run. M." 

Later from Mr. M. 

, April 5, 1884. 

Mr. James Monroe : Dear Sir — Some time 
ago I wrote you for interpretation of a dream 
that I had about being elected president, etc. 
Perhaps you remember the interpretation you 
gave it, and asked me to write to you after our 
township election. You said I would probably 
be elected to some office. I was very strongly 
solicited to run for supervisor by my party, and 
could have received the nomination by acclama- 
tion, but I positively refused to accept the nom- 
ination, which would have been equivalent to an 
election, as the man who was nominated as the 
second choice was elected by a good majority. 
Now, does not the fact that I was pressed to run 



246 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritica. 

for the office show that the dream had reference 
to that matter, as if I had run and had been 
elected. M." 

In the foregoing there is a good illustration 
of the style of dream language ; the irrelevancy 
of what is generally heard spoken, and the ten- 
dency to color or magnify small matters into 
seemingly great ones, as the reader may have 
also noticed in those foreshadowing other matters. 

DR. MARY STEWARD'S DREAM WARNING. 

" I had located in a town to practice medi- 
cine. It was winter. I had an attack of inflam- 
matory rheumatism — was helpless. Being away 
from home and friends I trusted to the people 
around me. The women of the house where I 
resided soon got tired of me, because I was sick 
and not able to take care of myself. The daugh- 
ter, Stella, was willing to assist me, but the old 
lady and her son, Morris, tried every way to get 
me out. It troubled me very much, for I was 
helpless. I cried nearly all the time. I could 
not be taken home I was so bad, and so far to 
go. The neighbors came in to console me often. 
One night Stella woke up, and said : ' Doc, you 
are going to have pleasanter times/ She then 
related her dream. 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 247 

" She said, i You and I were riding in a car- 
riage. I was driving the horse, and the way was 
dark and rough. Soon we came into mud and 
ruts. We heard a man behind us threatening 
and swearing, coming after us, and we were 
frightened most to death, for we expected he 
would get us before we could get out of the mud. 
I hurried the horse. Presently we came to a 
bank, and the sun shone through the trees. As 
we rode on over the bank we came out into per- 
fect sunshine. We rode on and came to our 
church, and saw men in the graveyard digging a 
grave. I asked them if they could tell me where 
my father was. I then awoke/ 

" It was the next night Morris came home 
drunk. He came up stairs three or four times 
to throw me out of the house, cursing and swear- 
ing, but did not come into my room. We could 
hear him, but could not see him. He frightened 
us most to death, for we expected he would put 
me out because he was crazy drunk. 

u The neighbors heard of it. They sent for 
the doctor and others, and took me over to one 
of the neighbors out of danger and trouble, and 
away from a family that was low enough. Had 
I known them before I never would have gone 
there. 



248 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

" In a few weeks Stella followed the remains 
of her father to the graveyard she dreamed of. 
and saw him buried there. 

Dr. Mary Steward. 
"Lundy's Lane, Pa" 

In the foregoing there is a mixture of literal 
scenes with that which is typical. The scene at 
the graveyard proved to be literal, but the two 
persons riding together over a rough road, was 
typical, and fitly represented their common in- 
terests ; and the mud and darkness, in accord- 
ance with our definitions, represents the trouble 
and their inability to foresee the result. But the 
end, in a scene of bright sunshine, signified the 
triumph over that series of difficulties. 

BREAM OF MR. P., OF ILLINOIS. 

Chicago, Feb. 5, 1885. 

Mr. James Monroe: I send you a vivid 
dream of mine. If agreeable, try your hand at 
its interpretation, and I will tell you what fol- 
lowed. 

My Dream. — Some twelve years ago w T hile 
living in Beverly, Mass., I dreamed that I was 
on an old dilapidated wharf (there was no wharf 
there) running out into the salt water in front of 
our house. It was a dark and dismal night, and 
all at once I saw our little boy, two-and-a-half 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 249 

years old, struggling in the water; I tried to 
reach him, but could not until he was sinking 
the third time, when I caught him by the hair, 
and with much difficulty drew him out. I awoke 
in perspiration and in a terrible fright. 

Can you interpret? P. 

Reply to Mr. P. 

Peoria, III., Feb. 7, 1885. 
Mr. P. — Dear Sir: Your letter with dream 
has come to hand. You have probably read my 
rules and my remarks in regard to the difficul- 
ties to be met with in attempting to interpret 
dreams relating to private affairs. We must first 
consider whether it be a literal or symbolic 
dream, or whether it be a part of one class and 
part of the other. Your boy might represent 
himself, and his struggles in the water might 
represent the struggles of nature to overcome 
disease, or your boy might represent a certain 
pursuit or business which you had difficulty with. 
But I have little doubt the former was the case. 
Your awakening in fright showed it to signify 
evil, and the darkness of night represented a 
time when results were doubtful in the case. 
The number of times which the boy sank may 
signify nothing more than your idea of the third 
time sinking in cases of drowning is the loss of 



250 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

the last hope. Old buildings (and perhaps old 
wharfs, too) are seen in dreams which have ref- 
erence to illness or death. In short, I would say 
your child was ill, even at the point of death, 
but, he recovered. 

Hoping to hear from you of what followed 
the dream, I remain, yours truly, 

James Monroe. 

Mr. P.'s rejoinder. 

Chicago, Feb. 12, 1885. 

James Monroe, Dear Sir : Your kind favor 
of the 7th is just received. Your interpretation 
of my dream is correct. 

Our boy was soon after the dream taken 
with brain fever, and recovered after the best 
medical talent in that region said he could not 
live. Towards the last of his illness I treated 
him myself contrary to the counsel of the doc- 
tors, and contrary to the rules of the books. It 
seemed, then, as if I was instrumental in pulling: 
him out. P. 

COMING EVENTS CAST THEIR SHADOWS BEFORE. 

The introduction of our system of rules for 
the interpretation of dreams was an event of in- 
terest to those who became readers and subscrib- 
ers to the Dream Investigator. Its shadow was 
cast upon the mental vision of many of them 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 251 

before their natural eyes received the impression 
of it. Some of those persons, without knowing 
the meaning of those symbolic dream impressions, 
have written and sent a description of them ta 
us. To one, the world of mankind and its dream 
literature was illustrated by a vast frog pond, 
with many little frogs peeping above the surface. 
These represented the many theories in reference 
to mental philosophy and dreams. There was 
one frog which was above the water and was as 
large as a dog. 

We claim for our system of interpretation, 
the distinction of being the large dog. 

At another time the introduction of this 
subject was illustrated by persons seen high in 
the air, and coming and alighting on a house, 
and finally going into the house. Similar to the 
last illustration is the following: 

DREAM EXPERIENCE OF MRS. J. G. 

To the Editor of the Dream Investigator : — 
I am somewhat of a dreamer, and have wished 
often that some of my dreams could be interpre- 
ted. I must tell you one that I had that made 
a lasting impression. In my dream I was stand- 
ing at the window looking out. It was midnight 
and very dark, but in the distance there was an 
eagle soaring, and he came toward the house and 



252 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritiea. 

alighted upon the roof, and I felt the whole 
house shake. While I was wondering if I should 
feel it when he would fly away, there was a form 
of a woman floated past me. She had upon her 
head a brass skull cap, and I could see only her 
face. She kept looking back at me, while great 
streams of light were emanating from her form 
as she was floating along ; and at the same time 
there was something else in the distance trying 
to develope, but I did not see it clearly. It 
seemed that my mind was attracted to that 
woman, and I lost that third object, whatever 
that was to be. I have often wished to have 
this dream interpreted, mostly on account of the 
impression which it left upon my mind. 

Springfield, Ohio. Mrs. G. 

Although we have no doubt in regard to 
the subject of this dream, yet, owing to personal 
considerations, it is with diffidence that we offer 
it to readers who are not so familiar with the 
ways of dream language. 

Looking out into the darkness of night had 
reference to the mental darkness prevailing upon 
the subject of dreams previous to the introduc- 
tion of the Dream Investigator. The coming of 
the eagle represented the introduction of the new 
system of interpretation to the attention of the 
dreamer. The shaking of the house represented 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 253 

the mental agitation made by the introduction of 
this subject in this form. The woman from 
whom the light emanated was much like the 
woman which St. John described as being clothed 
with the sun, and with a crown of stars upon her 
head. That one represented the Christian 
Church ; this one represents our system of inter- 
pretation. The object or matter which was being 
developed, of course represented our efforts in 
endeavoring to perfect our system of interpreta- 
tion. 

One more very singular illustration of the 
same matter, given nearly seventeen years before 
its fulfillment, was sent for publication in the 
Dream Investigator : 

DREAM EXPERIENCE OF MR. P., OF MASS. 

One night in September, 1867, 1 dreamed of 
being in Brunswick, Maine, the location of Bow- 
doin College, and as I was strolling along a 
stranger came up with me carrying a mahogany 
box about ten inches square each way, and asked 
me if I would carry it for him, which I consented 
to do, when he told me that it contained an ap- 
paratus for experimenting upon the force of color, 
and that he thought that I would like to witness 
an experiment he was about to make before the 
class. We entered a hall where were seated 



"254 Dreamer's Teacher and Onerocritica. 

from fifteen to twenty young men. My acquain- 
tance took the box saying that it contained the 
means of focalizing colored rays of light which 
is passed through colored glass tubes. He then 
took a hen's feather from his pocket, which was 
about four inches long, and after passing a pin 
through its stock half-way between its ends, and 
turning it until it turned easily, pinned the 
feather to the flat surface of a board, about five 
feet from the floor. Then going about thirty feet 
to the rear, and behind the class facing the board, 
placed the box in an elevated position and opened 
it, when I saw a blue and also a red glass tube 
about eight inches long by two in diameter. 
Turning my attention to the feather, I saw a 
blue light focalized between the pin and the end 
of the feather on one side, and a red light be- 
tween the pin and end of the feather on the op- 
posite side and other end, when the feather began 
to revolve slowly. But the feather, by working 
too far out on the pin, would tip so that the end 
ooming to the board prevented the united pro- 
pelling force of the colored rays, so that it had 
to be again pushed to the board, when the action 
would again commence as before. After a few 
minutes of this the experimenter, after locking 
the box, came forward with it, and addressed the 
<class nearly as follows : u This experiment has 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 255 

been very imperfect, but is sufficient to fully test 
and demonstrate the fact of there being a force 
or power in colored rays of light, when concen- 
trated." With this he gave me the box, charg- 
ing me to keep it safe until he called for it. I 
took it, the class dispersed, he left, and while 
wondering how I could keep it safe, and half 
sorry I took it at all, I awoke. 

A friend was visiting me at the time, and 
after my family had got together I related the 
dream, when the friend asked me to describe the 
man, which I did minutely, when he said, "Why, 
I know him ; it was Prof. C, professor of chem- 
istry in old Bowdoin, and died a few years ago. 
I knew him well, and you have described him 
accurately." I never saw Prof. C. alive, sure, 
and why I should have dreamed anything of 
such a nature is still a puzzle to me. 

Some ten years ago, when blue glass had 
such curative properties, I used to relate this 
dream to the experimenters in the healing qual- 
ities of blue glass. . P. 

Boston, Mass., Jan. 22, 1885. 

The foregoing dream belongs to the sym- 
bolic class, and is a very good one for the illus- 
tration of the form and manner in which revela- 
tions are given. In seeking for the meaning we 
may first observe that the first scene in the dream 



256 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

was in the vicinity of a college, thus suggesting 
that it had reference to a subject of study. The 
dreamer being overtaken by a stranger, who pre- 
sented him with a box, suggests the idea of a new 
subject, or a new illustration of an old subject, 
being introduced to his attention. 

In accordance with the rule, words are gen- 
erally irrelevant to the matter, only signifying 
action relating to it. The stranger opening the 
box, and proceeding with certain experiments 
before a class, aptly typified a person introducing 
a new theory or subject to the world, and en- 
deavoring to give illustrations of it. Again, in 
accordance with rule, material things represent 
mental and spiritual things, therefore natural 
light represents the light of knowledge. The 
symbols in the dream clearly point to the intro- 
duction and teaching of a certain subject or 
theory. It may be said that there was no sub- 
ject corresponding to that description introduced 
to the dreamer's attention at any time soon after 
the dream. Such a reply calls .up the necessity 
for the explanation of another fact, viz : That 
duration of time is no barrier to prophetic knowl- 
edge. Events are foreshadowed as clearly thou- 
sands of years as one year or one day. This is 
demonstrated in the events of the present day 
corresponding to the predictions of the ancient 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 257 

prophets. To a mind that is susceptible to pro- 
phetic influences, all that is required to gain a 
knowledge of the future of any matter, is to get 
the mind up to an enquiring condition in regard 
to that matter, and the dream which follows will 
generally be the answer to that enquiring condi- 
tion of the mind. 

Just previous to the reception of the fore- 
going dream the dreamer's mind had probably 
been stirred up to an enquiring condition in re- 
gard to the fact of prophetic dreams and the laws 
governing the subject. This was probably caused 
by a previous dream, and in answer to that en- 
quiring condition the intervening seventeen 
years up to the present time, was no barrier to 
the symbolic foreshadowing as it was presented 
to his mind. 

Now, in the application of our illustration, 
let us suppose that the first scene in the vicinity 
of a college, as seen in the dream, represents the 
dreamer's situation upon the subject of dreams 
at the time he first received notice of the exist- 
ence of The Dream Investigator ; then let the 
stranger with the dark box represent us with 
our unique system of rules for the interpretation 
of dreams and visions ; then let the illustrations 
before the class represent our efforts to convince 
the world of the truth of our rules ; then let the 
17 



258 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritica. 

remarks of the experimenter in regard to the 
imperfect illustration literally represent what we 
have often said in regard to the imperfect condi- 
tion of our system of rules of interpretation. 
Then we may perceive that the several parts of 
the dream and the interpretation as given, fits 
very well together. 

We do not wish to appear egotistical in at- 
taching undue importance to the work which we 
have undertaken to do, neither does a true inter- 
pretation of the dream require it. It is not 
necessary that we should claim to be the origin- 
ator of a great revolution upon this subject, nor 
does it even signify that our theories in regard 
to this matter are true, but it did signify to the 
dreamer that such illustrations of the matter 
would be presented to him at some time during 
his life, and that it would be the best he could 
get upon that subject. 

To the foregoing interpretation we may add 
that the locking of the box after the experiment, 
and the delivery of the same to the dreamer, 
with orders that he should keep it until the ex- 
perimenter should call for it, and the unsatisfied 
condition of the dreamer's mind while holding 
the locked box, very aptly typified the unsatis- 
factory condition of his mind upon the subject of 
dreams after the discontinuance of The Dream 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 259 

Investigator. The subject was then again typi- 
cally locked up, as it had been before, and the 
dreamer was not satisfied to have it so. But we 
hope that the little dream-knowledge-box will 
be again opened upon the issue of this book. 

THE GRIN^ELL TORNADO FORESHADOWED. 

To the Editor of the Dream Investigator : — 
On the night of the 15th of June, 1882, I re- 
tired early, after a day of hard and fatiguing 
professional work, My mind had been occupied 
all day with the plainest and least poetical as- 
pects of life, yet I dreamed that I was in a val- 
ley of the Himalayas, a lonely spot, with no sign 
of a human habitation near, except a ruined pa- 
goda temple on the mountain side. All the stones 
and columns lay thrown to the west. Suddenly I 
heard a rushing sound in the air above me, 
mingled with cries of terror and pain, and above 
all this, the sound of the feet of rapidly galloping 
horses. I looked up, and in the sky were thou- 
sands of mounted soldiers, dressed in strange 
oriental-looking costumes of green, white, pur- 
ple, and scarlet. Each horseman had a little 
banner, some red, some yellow, but all marked 
with black. These they moved frantically 
over their heads, and this waving of the banners 
seemed to produce the rush and noise of a terri- 



260 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

ble wind. I remember saying to myself in my 
dream : " These are the Mahiets, the demons of 
the storm. Siva has sent them to serve him. 
It was quite natural for me to say this in my 
dream, because I read oriental literature a good 
deal, and am much in the habit of thinking in 
oriental ways. After a considerable time the 
flying horsemen seemed to disappear in a great 
cloud full of lightning flashes. I awoke, shiv- 
ering with cold, but not frightened. 

About eight o'clock in the evening of the 
next day but one, a third of the town where I 
live, including the house where I resided, was 
completely wrecked by one of the most destruc- 
tive storms ever known in the northwest — the 
great Grinnell cyclone of June 17, 1882. 

Mrs. Br. M. H. Aiken. 

Grinnell, Iowa, Nov. 22, 1884. 

The foregoing dream is a good illustration 
of the style of prophetic dreams. There is a 
mixture of the literal with the symbolical, and 
evidence of a common language in the symboli- 
cal. The appearance of ruins, the rushing air 
and cries of terror and pain, flashing of lightning 
and remarks about a storm, were sights and 
sounds which were literally fulfilled in the storm 
which followed. In accordance with the rule, 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences, 261 

previous associations of the mind caused the in- 
troduction of irrelevant words. Soldiers repre- 
sented destruction and loss of life ; their banners 
marked with black signified death's victory, and 
the soldiers being in the air seemed to point to 
the manner in which the destruction would come. 

From Mrs. Crowe's " Night Side of Nature." 
DEATH APPEARS IN MATERIAL FORM. 

The following very curious allegorical dream 
I give, not in the words of the dreamer, but in 
those of her son, who bears a name destined, I 
trust, to a long immortality. 

" Wooer's Abbey-Cottage, ) 

Dumferline-in-the- Woods, > 

Monday morning, 31st of May, 1847 • ) 

"Dear Mrs. Crowe: That dream of my 
mother's was as follows : She stood in a long, 
dark, empty gallery ; on her one side was my 
father, and on the other side my eldest sister, 
Amelia, then myself and the rest of the family, 
according to their ages. At the foot of the hall 
stood my youngest sister, Alexes, and above her 
my sister Catherine — a creature, by-the-way, in 
person and mind, more like an angel of heaven 
than an inhabitant of earth. We all stood silent 
and motionless. At last it entered — the unim- 
agined something, that, casting its grim shadow 
before, had enveloped all the trivialities of the 



262 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

preceding dream in the stifling atmosphere of 
terror. It entered, stealthily descending the 
three steps that led from the entrance down into 
the chamber of horror, and my mother felt it was 
death; he was dwarfish, bent, and shrivelled. He 
carried on his shoulder a heavy axe, and had 
come, she thought, to destroy all her little ones 
at one fell swoop. On the entrance of the shape 
my sister Alexes leaped out of the rank, inter- 
posing herself between him and my mother. 
He raised his axe and aimed a blow at Catherine 
— a blow which, to her horror, my mother could 
not intercept, though she had snatched up a 
three-legged stool, the sole furniture of the 
apartment, for that purpose. She could not, she 
felt, fling the stool at the figure without destroy- 
ing Alexes, who kept shooting out and in be- 
tween her and the ghastly thing. She tried in 
vain to scream ; she besought my father in agony 
to avert the impending stroke, but he did not 
hear, or did not heed, and stood motionless as in 
a trance. Down came_the axe, and poor Cath- 
erine fell in her blood, cloven to the white halse 
bone. Again the axe was lifted by the inexora- 
ble shadow over the head of my brother, who 
stood next in line. Alexes had somewhere dis- 
appeared behind the ghastly visitant, and with a 
scream my mother flung the footstool at his head. 
He vanished, and she awoke. 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 263 

" This dream left on my mother's mind a 
fearful apprehension of impending misfortune, 
which would not pass away. It was murder she 
feared, and her suspicions were not allayed by 
the discovery that a man (sometime before dis- 
carded by my father for bad conduct, and with 
whom she had, somehow, associated the Death of 
her dream) had been lurking about the place, 
and sleeping in an adjoining outhouse on the 
night it occurred, and for some nights previous 
and subsequent to it. Her terror increased. 
Sleep forsook her, and every night, when the 
house was still, she arose and stole, sometimes 
with a candle, sometimes in the dark, from room 
to room, listening, in a sort of waking night- 
mare, for the breathing of the assassin, who, she 
imagined was lurking in some one of them. This 
could not last. She reasoned with herself, but 
her terror became intolerable, and she related 
her dream to my father, who, of course, called 
her a fool for her pains, whatever might be his 
real opinion of the matter. 

11 Three months had elapsed when we chil- 
dren were all of us seized with scarlet fever. 
My sister Catherine died almost immediately, — 
sacrificed, as my mother in her misery thought, 
to her (my mother's) over-anxiety for Alexes, 
whose danger seemed more imminent. The 



264 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

dream prophecy was in part fulfilled. I also 
was at death's door, given up by the doctors, 
but not by my mother. She was confident of 
my recovery, but for my brother, who was not 
considered in danger at all, but on whose head 
she had seen the visionary axe impending, her 
fears were great, for she could not recollect as to 
whether the blow had or had not descended when 
the spectre vanished. My brother recovered, 
but relapsed, and barely escaped with his life ; 
but Alexes did not. For a year and ten months 
the poor child lingered, and almost every night 
I had to sing her asleep — often, I remember, 
through bitter tears, for I knew she was dying, 
and I loved her the more as she wasted away. 
I held her little hand as she died ; I followed 
her to the grave— -the last thing that I have 
loved on earth. And the dream was fulfilled. 
" Truly and sincerely yours, 

" J. Noel Paton." 
What can the sceptic say in reply to such a 
statement from so distinguished a man as Joseph 
Noel Paton. By his genius he won a place 
among the biographies of the world's great men. 
He was a member of the family which was so 
dreadfully stricken with misfortune, and one of 
the sufferers, therefore he must have heard the 
dream frequently repeated, both before and after 



Miscellaneous ~Dream Experiences. 265 

the event as well as during its progress. He was 
not deceived, therefore, by exaggerations made 
up after the event. The mother seeking to guard 
against danger from another source, after her 
fears had been excited by the dream, shows that 
it was not fear of the real event which first in- 
spired it. If that had been so, she might have 
had still more horrible dreams while suffering 
from the terror of the first one previous to its 
fulfillment. 

Some of the parts appearing obscure until 
after its fulfillment gives to it the marks of a 
genuine dream. The aptness in the typical il~ 
lustration in its many parts precludes the idea of 
coincidence. 

From the New York Letter of Dec, 1883. 
DREAM EXPERIENCE OF AN ACTRESS. 

All the world likes to talk about dreams, 
and half believe in them in spite of great pre- 
tensions to the contrary and much talk about 
physiological causes. A dream story, in which a 
late railroad accident was the subject, and a cel- 
ebrated singer the dreamer, has just come to 
light. 

Zelda Seguin is with the Abbot Opera Com- 
pany this season [1883], as everybody knows. 
So far the company has spent much of its time 
in the northwest, drawing big houses and re- 



266 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

ceiving plenty of newspaper praise. On the 
night of September 29 it was in Omaha. That 
night Mrs. Seguin dreamed that she was in a 
railroad car near Utica, N. Y. She knew it was 
in that locality, having passed over it often. As 
the train flew along she thought she saw the dif- 
ferent points in the scenery, commenting upon 
them from time to time to a young lady who oc- 
cupied the same seat with her. The young lady 
was a close friend, and in the dream Mrs. Seguin 
thought it perfectly natural that they should be 
traveling together. She heard somebody say, 
" Diefendorf Hill." That part of the dream she 
remembered with special distinctness. The pe- 
culiarity of dream dialogues is, that though one 
seems to be sayiug much, and hearing much, 
only a few sentences of it all stand boldly out in 
the memory after the dreamer opens his eyes on 
a new day. And so, Mrs. Seguin, sleeping in 
Omaha, thirty-six hours before the accident on 
the West Shore Road, dreamed she was whirling 
along near Utica, and heard the name of " Die- 
fendorf Hill" distinctly. Then she saw her 
girl companion's face turn to that peculiar shade 
of white which terror only can produce, saw the 
same ghastly rigidity of muscle spread over the 
faces of the other passengers, and simultaneously 
felt a shock which instantly expanded into a 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 267 

grating, grinding, horrible jar, thai seemed to 
splinter the very rocks beneath the earth. Then 
all was suddenly blotted out in one engulfment 
of darkness. Out of this Mrs. Seguin seemed to 
rise in that mysterious way in which we are all 
extricated from dilemnas in dreams, until she 
could look down upon the wreck from the air 
above it. She saw the two engines locked in 
each other's embrace, twisted, belching, groan- 
ing, as though in mortal agony ; saw also the 
cars which were thrown from the track, damaged 
and crippled like great animals ; and withal saw 
in one of them the friend who sat by her side a 
moment before. She was now lying helpless in 
the dreadful mass of debris, her face deathlike, 
and her form motionless. There the dream had 
stopped. She told it the next morning, as it was 
still fresh in her mind on waking up, but did 
not, of course, think that it had any significance. 
What was her surprise within three days to read 
of the accident which occurred on the first of 
October, on the West Shore Road, and later to 
learn that the same young friend who had sat 
beside her in the dream, had really been aboard 
the wrecked train and been injured. 

Let the people who explain such things by 
material reasoning, or those who waive them 
aside with a sneer and a smile, tell, if they can, 



268 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritica. 

why Zelda Seguin, sleeping more than a thousand 
miles from Utiea, should so accurately dream out 
an accident three days before it occurred, and as- 
sociate a friend with it whom she believed to be 
safe in her home in one of the interior towns of 
Pennsylvania. She had retired after an evening 
of more than usual honor. The applause had 
been generous to embarrassment. Nothing had 
occurred to call up thoughts of peril or accident. 
Yet in her dream she felt the shock and saw the 
ruins of the wreck. 

-Once before Zelda Seguin had a remarkable 

dream in regard to a public event which soon 
after happened. Three nights before Jim Fisk 
was shot she dreamed she was walking up Broad- 
way and the entire street was draped in mourn- 
ing. The shutters of every store were closed, 
and in white letters on a black ground on every 
one was the name u Jim Fisk." She turned in- 
to other streets and it was the same. Every- 
where there was the drapery of mourning, and 
the name " Jim Fisk" in white letters. This 
dream she told next morning to her friends, and 
on the third day thereafter was shocked beyond 
expression to learn that Fisk had been shot ; yet 
she had never even seen him. 






Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 269 

PROTESTANTISM FORESHADOWED TO THE 
ELECTOR. 

During the heat of the quarrel between Lu- 
ther and Tezel about the value of indulgences, 
and the manner of their disposition, the elector, 
Frederick of Saxony, is said to have had a dream, 
which is thus narrated by Dr. Merle D'Aubigne : 

The Feast of All-Saints drew near. The 
chronicles of that day relate a circumstance which, 
though not important to the history of the period, 
may, however, serve to characterize it. It is a 
dream of the Elector, which, in substance, is 
unquestionably authentic, though several cir- 
cumstances may have been added by those who 
have related it. It is mentioned by Seckendorf, 
who observes that the fear of giving their adver- 
saries ground to say that the doctrine of Luther 
was founded upon dreams, has, perhaps, preven- 
ted several historians from speaking of it. 

The Elector Frederick of Saxony (says the 
chronicles of the times) was at his castle of 
Schweinitz, six leagues from Wittenburg. On 
the morning of the 31st of October, being in 
company with his brother, Duke John (who was 
then co-regent, and became sole elector after his 
brother's death), and with his chancellor, the 
Elector said to the Duke : 



270 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

" Brother, I must tell you a dream which I 
had last night, and the meaning of which I 
should much like to know. It is so deeply im- 
pressed on my mind that I shall never forget it 
were I to live a thousand years, for I dreamed 
it thrice, and each time with new circumstances." 
Duke John. — " Is it a good or a bad dream V J 
The Elector. — "I know not; God knows." 
Duke John. — " Don't be uneasy about it ; 
but be so good as to tell it to me." 

The Elector. — '■ Having gone to bed last 
night, fatigued and out of spirits, I fell asleep 
shortly after my prayer, and slept quietly for 
about two hours and a half. I then awoke and 
continued awake until midnight, all sorts of 
thoughts passing through my mind. Among 
other things I thought how I was to observe the 
Feast of All Saints ; I prayed for the poor souls 
in purgatory, and supplicated God to guide me, 
my councils, and my people according to truth. 
I again fell asleep, and dreamed that Almighty 
God sent me a monk, who was a true son of the 
Apostle Paul. All the saints accompanied him 
by the order of God, in order to bear testimony 
before God, and to declare that he did not come 
to contrive any plot, but that all he did was ac- 
cording to the will of God. They asked me to 
have the goodness graciously to permit him to 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 271 

write something on the door of the church of the 
castle at Wittenberg. This I granted through 
my chancellor. Thereupon the monk went to 
the church, and began to write in such large 
characters that I could read the writing clearly 
at Schweinitz. The pen which he used was so 
large that its ends reached as far as Rome, where 
it pierced the ears of a lion that was crouching 
there, and caused the triple crown that was upon 
the head of the Pope to shake. All the cardi- 
nals and princes, running hastily up, tried to 
prevent it from falling. You and I, brother, 
also wished to assist, and I stretched out my 

arm- ; but at this moment I awoke with my 

arm in the air, quite amazed, and very much en- 
raged at the monk for not managing his pen 
better. I recollected myself a little : it was only 
a dream. 

"I was still half asleep, and once more closed 
my eyes. The lion, still annoyed by the pen, 
began to roar with all his might, so that the 
whole city of Rome and all the States of the 
Roman Empire ran to see what* the matter was. 
The Pope requested them to oppose this monk, 
and applied particularly to me on account of his 
being in my country. I again awoke, repeated 
the Lord's Prayer, entreated God to preserve his 
Holiness, and once more fell asleep. 



272 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 



a i 



' Then I dreamed that all the princes of the 
empire, and we among them, hastened to Rome, 
and strove, one with another, to break the pen, 
but the more w T e tried the stiffer it became, and 
sounded as if it had been made of iron. We at 
length desisted. I then asked the monk (for I 
was sometimes at Rome and sometimes at Wit- 
tenberg) where he got this pen, and why it was 
so strong ? ' ' The pen/ he replied, ' belonged to 
an old goose of Bohemia, a hundred years old. 
I got it from my schoolmaster. As to its strength, 
it is owing to the impossibility of depriving it 
of its pith or marrow, and I am quite astonished 
at it myself.' Suddenly I heard a loud noise : a 
large, number of other pens had sprung out of 
the large pen of the monk. ... I awoke a 
third time ; it was daylight." 

Duke John. — " Chancellor, what is your 
opinion ? Would we had a Joseph or a Daniel 
enlightened by God." 

Chancellor. — " Your highness knows the 
common proverb, that the dream of young girls, 
learned men, and great lords, have usually some 
hidden meaning. The meaning of this dream, 
however, we shall not be able to know for some 
time — not till the things to which it relates 
have taken place. Wherefore leave the accom- 
plishment to God, and place it wholly in His 
hand." 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 273 

Duke John. — u I am of your opinion, Chan- 
cellor. *T is not fit for us to annoy ourselves in 
attempting to discover the meaning; God will 
overrule all for His glory. " 

Elector. — " May our faithful God do so ; 
yet I shall never forget this dream. I have, in- 
deed, thought of an interpretation, but I keep it 
to myself. Time, perhaps, will show if I have 
been a good diviner." 

Thus the morning of the 31st of October, 
1517, was spent at Schweinitz. At Wittenberg, 
six leagues distant, Luther, in the course of the 
day, posted up his celebrated propositions about 
indulgences. This step, it will be observed, was 
taken by him without having informed either the 
Elector, or Stanpitz Spalatin, or any, even the 
most intimate, of his friends of his intention. — 
History of the Reformation in the Sixteenth Cen- 
tury. 

All great events cast their shadows before, 
and history shows that the Christian Reforma- 
tion of the sixteenth century was one of the great 
events of the world. The dream narrated in the 
foregoing occurred just the night previous to the 
day in which Martin Luther took the first step 
in the matter which brought about the Protest- 
ant Reformation. The dream came to one who, 
perhaps, was not in sympathy with the move- 
18 



274 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

ment of Luther, but from his remarks we infer 
that he was a devout man, and one sincerely 
seeking for the truth ; and to such we may sup- 
pose true revelations are generally given. 

There appears to have been less prejudice 
against the belief in revelations through dreams 
in those days than now, else the dream would 
never have been written, or perhaps not known 
to any except the dreamer himself. 

It appears to have been given in the usual 
symbolic language in which nearly all revela- 
tions are given, and in accordance with the 
rules which we have given for the interpretation 
of this language. 

The great and important effect of Luther's 
movement upon the church was fitly typified by 
the writing of enormous letters upon the church 
door, because a church edifice often represents 
church matters, and size has reference to the 
power and importance of a matter. 

We state in our definitions that the largest 
classes of ferocious beasts represent human force 
in the form of a government, church, etc., there- 
fore in this case the church was properly repre- 
sented by a lion. The ears of the lion being 
pierced by the pen, of course had reference to 
the fact that the church throughout all the Papal 
States were forced to hear the protest which was 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 275 

represented by the pen. And although the lion 
roared loudly he was unable to counteract the 
power of the pen which had written the protest. 

REMAEKS OF MAJOR E. S. 

Among remarks written and sent to the 
Dream Investigator by Major E. S., we would 
recommend the following for consideration : 

" In my political dreams I always see the 
elephant representing the Republican party, and 
an extra large and long snake the Democratic 
party or opposition. Just before the Ohio elec- 
tion I saw an elephant try to tread a large snake 
to death, but the snake bit the elephant on the 
right fore foot, and he left on three legs grunt- 
ing in great pain. 

" I have dreamt this dream twice about the 
Ohio elections, and once on the national election ; 
when the elephant trod the snake apparently to 
pieces." 

u Music with dancing is death, sure." 

The Major further adds that,," An old Mis- 
sourian once toJd me that a person ought to fast 
at least three days to dream straight." 

In regard to the statement of the old Mis- 
sourian we would remark, that although pro- 
phetic dreams are received without fasting, yet 
we have no doubt but dreams after fasting would 



276 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

be more clear, and divested of much ambiguity 
and the bias of the natural mind. This opinion 
is sustained by the history of the habits of the 
ancient prophets. 

DREAM EXPERIENCE OF J. B. S. 

Editor of the Dream Investigator : Many 
years ago, while a minor, my brother-in-law said 
to me, " Joseph, I had a dream lately which I 
wish you to interpret. I dreamed of being in 
the ninepin alley, and taking the ball to roll, the 
sunshine streamed directly in my face and eyes 
so brightly I could not see the pins, and after a 
few fruitless efforts I gave up trying." My in- 
terpretation : " Well, Brother C, you have in- 
dulged in that to the neglect, at times, of your 
family and against your convictions, but have 
stifled conscience, which is the strong light daz- 
zling you, and will entirely overcome your abil- 
ity to resist it, and you will abandon the prac- 
tice." Within three years of that time, instead 
of meeting with former associates of that caste, 
he met and took part in religious meetings, and, 
what he had never done before, joined in prayer 
and praise, and many years thereafter bid adieu 
to earth with the Christian's hope of a glorious 
immortality. 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences, 277 

Second, — I had a dream of seeing a crow in 
a tree at which I pointed my gun, fired, and it 
fell ; I went to it, finding it severely wounded 
but still alive, but to my horror and grief it was 
no longer a crow, but a colored man who had 
been a slave, had purchased his freedom, and had 
the means to purchase the freedom of his wife 
and little ones, and was on his way south to do 
so. I felt so distressed that I awoke. I was 
then, 1852, a firm believer in " Millerism." A 
few weeks later I was taken with brain fever, 
barely lived through it, and arose from bed di- 
vested of my faith, and there has never been a 
renewal of it. J. B. S. 

In reference to the first dream we will state 
that sunlight, as we have defined it, represents 
the light of religion, or spiritual light. The 
writer, although he gave substantially the true 
interpretation to the dream, yet he substituted 
the word " conscience " where he should have 
written " religious or spiritual light." The word 
" conscience" would not apply in all cases as 
the true definition will. 

In reference to the second dream we would 
refer to the definitions of Trees, Birds, Negroes 
and Shooting. The tree represented his church, 
and the crow in the tree represented his idea or 
faith in the said church. The shooting of the 



278 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritiea. 

crow represented the mental process by which he 
became separated from the church. The pres- 
ence of the negro was a vague representation of 
the connection of his disease with the subject. 
The words heard spoken, as is usual in dreams, 
were irrelevant to the subject, and only signified 
action in the matter. The words probably took 
on the form of the dreamer's waking thoughts, 
therefore we infer that he was an abolitionist. 

In accordance with rules given, the dreamer 
should have known that the dream signified evil 
for him, because he awoke distressed in mind. 
a child's death foretold. 

To the Editor of The Dream Investigator : — 
A friend of mine lost his wife a few years ago, 
and a year after her death he had a dream in 
which he dreamed that his wife came to his bed- 
side and said, " Six months from now I will take 
Sis/' meaning a little girl that was in good health 
at the time. Six months from the date of the 
dream the child died. The child was a cousin of 
ex-Governor J. D. Cox of Ohio. 

Yours respectfully, Sarah Riley, 

59 Union Avenue, Brooklyn, E. D. 

A true theory will coincide with the facts. 
The sceptic is always ready with a plea in sup- 
port of his theory. But he is obliged to shift 
his position frequently to support a false theory. 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 279 

When a person is plainly forewarned of death, 
and dies at the time named, they (the sceptics) 
claim that imagination was the cause of the 
death. But that theory fails in the foregoing 
case, for the dream of the father would not ex- 
cite the imagination of the child to any great 
extent, even if told to the child, and it probably 
was not told. 

A DREAM, AND ITS INTERPRETATION. 

To the Editor of The Dream Investigator : — 
I was once boarding with a merchant in the State 
of Kansas, when one morning at breakfast he 
related the following dream : He dreamed that 
he went to his stable to feed his cow. He put 
the corn in the box for her, and started to go to 
the house, and the cow started after him to hook 
him. He succeeded in getting to his back door, 
when she hit him, and sent him clean inside the 
house, knocking him with such force that he 
knocked the door down, and the cow, with her 
horns in his clothes, on top. 

Now, I am not an interpreter of dreams, but 
I did, however, interpret this one correctly. 

I told him that he would sell out suddenly, 
and for a good price, which he did on that day, 
and left for the State of Ohio the next. The 
bargain w r as completed at noon, and he got just 



280 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritioa. 

one thousand dollars more than he expected to 
get. No invoice of stock was made, — the buyer 
took it off hand at a lumping guess as to the 
amount of stock, etc. 

With me a cow means a trader, and steers 
or oxen, money. A rampant cow, like this one 
was," evidently meant a quick or anxious buyer. 

E. S. 

DREAM EXPERIENCE OF MR. W., OF ILLINOIS. 

To the Editor of the Dream Investigator : — 
" I thought I was taking a little girl home on a 
sled. I was going along the street (in my dream, 
of course) and the child actually asked me to 
take her home, and she a perfect stranger to me, 
too. It seemed that I knew all about it, for I 
never asked her where she lived, but just took 
her straight to her home. She was a pretty, 
flaxen-haired child about three or four years old." 

The interpretation, in accordance with the 
rules of a common dream language, would be as 
follows : 

The subject of the dream was the pursuit of 
an idea, or hobby, not destined to succeed be- 
cause represented by a little girl. The idea or 
hobby was of a spiritual or religious nature, be- 
cause the girl appeared with flaxen hair. Words 
spoken signify action; and being upon the street 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences, 281 

indicated a public matter, but the sled did not 
signify rapid progress nor success in the matter. 
When the reader is informed that the fore- 
going dream was the experience of an editor of 
a magazine, published in support of a religious 
creed, and the creed having received but a very 
limited support, and not likely to receive more 
in the future, he will perceive how completely 
the editor unconsciously outlined the unfavorable 
situation of himself, and also that of his church, 
in the writing of his dream. 

THE WAR OF THE REBELLION FORESHADOWED. 

Shawneetown, III., April 13, 1884. 

Mr. James Monroe, Peoria, 11L : Dear Sir 
— As you ask for dreams and their interpreta- 
tions, I thought I would give you a few that I 
have had in the past. 

Now, as to snakes being enemies, secret or 
open, weak or powerful, according to size, etc., 
I wish to briefly relate a dream I had after the 
presidential election of 1860; I think it was in 
the second week of November of that year, and 
was as follows : I thought I was standing on a 
high mountain on the north side of the Ohio 
River, iu which position I got an accurate bird's 
eye view of the States of Kentucky, Tennessee, 
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Flor- 



282 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

ida, and the Carolinas. I could see even their 
rivers, lakes, mountains and forests. The latter 
took my eye the most on account of their height 
and greenness. While thus admiring these trees, 
I was astonished at seeing them beginning to die, 
their green leaves withering as though touched 
by fire. I began to look for the cause, when 
casting my eye as it were on Florida, I saw the 
tail of a very large serpent twisted around many 
trees. I began to follow its folds and coils, when 
lo ! I found its mammoth head lying in the fork 
of a huge tree right opposite me in Kentucky. 
At the same instant, on looking down on the 
ground beneath its head, I saw plainly a beauti- 
ful maiden, with a Goddess cap on, walking be- 
tween two soldiers dressed in blue. They were 
going from me, and right under the tree where 
the serpent was resting his head. I saw him 
eyeing the approach of the lady and two sol- 
diers. I could plainly see his eyes, and that he 
was slipping his head through the fork of the 
tree with the intention to strike the woman. At 
this I gave a scream, which caused the three per- 
sons to stop. The soldiers instantly, it seemed, 
saw the head of the serpent and both shot at the 
same time, tearing it into shreds. The woman 
gave a scream and ran away into the woods to 
her left, or northward. The soldiers followed 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 283 

her after being convinced that the serpent was 
dead, bat from my standpoint I could see that 
the serpent had two heads and the soldiers had 
only shot off one, that was through the fork of 
the tree, and the other was flat against the tree 
on the other side. I hallooed and tried to get 
them to come back and finish his snakeship, but 
they went after the woman to the north. At 
last I saw a large eagle coming from the north 
with great speed, and he stopped at the place 
where the headless portion of the snake was hang- 
ing and made several circles around it, and then 
began to sail over its entire length, observing it, 
as I thought, closely to see if it moved. After 
the eagle seemed to be satisfied of its death it 
sailed away to the north and lit on a large rock 
on the top of a mountain. Oh ! how mad I was 
to see that the serpent had so completely feigned 
death, and not only deceived the two soldiers,, 
but the close inspection of the eagle. After what 
seemed to be an hour, the serpent began to move 
again, and I looked at the eagle and he had his 
head under his wing, sleeping.' How I did 
curse him for sleeping and letting the serpent 
get away. The serpent was crawling through 
the tops of the trees and he was now changing 
his course towards Nashville, Tenn., when all at 
once the eagle pulled his head out from under 



284 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritiea. 

his wing and saw the serpent's folds gliding 
along through the tops of the trees, when he gave 
a scream and sailed southward after the serpent 
and attacked him, catching it about the middle 
southward of Nashville, and there seemed to be 
an earthquake which shook the ground even to 
where I was standing and awoke me. 

Now this dream, according to my present 
light, clearly shows that the trees when green 
were loyal citizens. The serpent was the enemy 
of the Union — the spirit of secession which soon 
blighted these loyal subjects to the Union. The 
woman was the Goddess of Liberty rightly guard- 
ed, which was the fact when secession broke out. 
The eagle was the watchful spirit of the United 
States government — the real spirit or new organ- 
ized army. The fight between the eagle and ser- 
pent, south of Nashville, must have been Sher- 
man's many battles on his way to the sea, which 
tore the serpent in two or broke its back. 

But why should I, a boy yet in my teens, 
dream such a remarkable dream about such great 
future events? If dreams are given to the 
sleeper by angels or spirits, why was it not given 
to hundreds or thousands of men who could have 
probably interpreted the whole at the time and 
been prepared to take advantage at the time and 
strangle secession at its start? 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 285 

The dream evidently prefigured the seces- 
sion movement and its final results. If you think 
differently, please give us your interpretation. 

Yours Respectfully, 

Maj. Elijah Sneezeweed. 

The foregoing dream is a very important and 
remarkable one, and in many points confirms the 
truth of my definitions of dream language. In 
this case snakes are shown to represent great 
troubles and difficulties as well as persons, as I 
have elsewhere shown. The dreamer has given 
a correct interpretation upon the chief points of 
the dream. 

The dreamer asks why the matter was not 
revealed to those who might have availed them- 
selves of the knowledge and been enabled to 
provide against the difficulties. But the fact is 
that mankind are governed by their necessities, 
rather than by wisdom. Wisdom would lead a 
short and cheap way to happiness if mankind 
would give it their united support ; and by not 
doing this they go the round-about way and rise 
by the lessons of sad experience, up through 
great tribulations ; and, furthermore, men who 
wield the greatest influence among mankind 
are seldom of that class who receive revelation. 



286 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritiea. 

SYMBOLS OF THE SEIGE OF VICKSBURG. 

Another of Major S's Dreams. 

To the Editor of The Dream Investigator: — 
The following dream occurred while I was a sol- 
dier in the army. I forgot the exact dates, as I 
kept no diary, but the dream was very vivid, 
and in my mind I recall every incident of it. It 
occurred the night before my regiment was or- 
dered to Vicksburg. Our regiment was doing 
provost duty at Memphis, Tennessee, and had 
been for some time, and we all felt "solid," as 
the boys would say, in our situation. Other sol- 
diers, by regiments, brigades, divisions and army 
corps had passed through there bound for Vicks- 
burg, and all things had quieted down, leaving 
our brigade in charge of the city. It seemed to 
be a settled and foregone conclusion that we 
were not to participate in that seige. 

Well one night, or rather in the morning, I 
dreamed that I started with another comrade to 
climb an exceedingly high mountain. That 
within about twenty feet of the top my comrade 
gave out and had to sit down on a ledge of 
rocks to rest, while I continued to pull myself up 
by holding up to small trees. At last I gained 
the summit, and it was flat and broad, like a ma- 
cadamized road, running north and south. I 
looked up and down but saw no one or any 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 287 

habitation, and after thinking as to which way 
to go I decided to go to my left or north. I 
had not gone far when I came across a double 
brass door right across the road. The doors 
were oval at the top and over them was, in plain 
large capital letters, this only: "WHITE 
PAPER." I read it over several times and at 
last concluded to see from some one on the other 
side, if possible, what it meant. So I went up 
to the door and gave it a loud rap and several 
kicks with the toe of my right boot, when I 
heard a key turn in the lock and slowly the 
door came open enough for a large, portly, but 
elderly man, with gray, flowing beard, to step 
out. I recognized him immediately by his belt 
and big key as the veritable old St. Peter himself. 
In coming out, I heard on the inside the 
most delightful of music, that beat all the brass 
and string bands I ever heard, though it was on 
the string-band order. The sun was shining on 
the outside where I was, but when the door was 
opened for St. Peter to come out, the light on the 
inside was brighter and lighter, but more mel- 
low. Well, I thought St. Peter asked me what 
I wanted. I told him I wanted to know and 
see who it was making such delightful music in 
there. He said I could not ; I said I would and 
tried to shove him aside, but he proved the best 



288 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritiea. 

man and shoved me out. He kept the gates ajar 
for some time, and we held quite a lengthy con- 
versation, principally in answering my Yankee 
inquisitiveness. I remember of asking him many 
foolish questions, such as if he and St. Paul ever 
fought, etc. He answered all very pleasantly 
and with a smile. I asked him if this was 
heaven. He said yes. I then said I had been 
there several hours and no one had come in yet, 
and I thought there would be a rush for such a 
place. He said to me that this was my gate, 
and that only those who loved mercy, dealt 
justly and walked humbly before God could come 
in. I told him that I had done all that and 
wanted in, and made a rush to get in, but he was 
too much for me and pushed me out. He then 
told me to go down to the marble wall to the 
right. I was facing north-east, it seemed to me, 
so my right was to the south-east. He told me 
to follow the path down the side of the wall; 
that I would soon behold the prettiest female, 
eyes ever beheld ; that she would have an extra- 
ordinarily beautiful bouquet in her hand ; that I 
must keep my eyes about me but accompany her 
down the hill; that I would see snakes by the 
thousand of all sizes and kinds, also huge lions, 
tigers and other ferocious beasts ; and when I 
asked him what her name was, he said it was 






Miscellaneous Dream Experiences, 289 

"Fascination." Well, to cut a lon^Hream down 
to short meter, I went down the path along side 
of the marble wall, which seemed very high. I 
had not gone very far down till all of a sud- 
den there stood by my side the prettiest girl 
there ever was ; she was truly dazzling ; she had 
the prettiest eyes I ever saw. She was toying 
and plucking at a magnificent bouquet as large 
as a peck measure. She seemed bashful and acted 
shy for a few moments, and then said, "Soldier, 
I want to go down home and am afraid ; won't 
you go with me ?" I told her I would, so we 
started down the hill side by side, I holding the 
flowers. We had not gone very far until I saw 
the ground covered with little snakes from the 
size of a needle to that of my finger. We both 
pretended not to see them. All at once I spied 
two very large lions lying by the path wagging 
their tails and licking their red mouths. My 
bravery and soldierly bearing soon began to 
evaporate and I halted. She laughed and made 
fun of me. She gave a wave of her hand and 
the lions scampered off in the woods to our right, 
we went a piece further and saw more lions, 
tigers and snakes hundreds of feet long and a* 
big around as a barrel, but she made them get 
out of the way. 
19 



290 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritiea. 

At lasd^ve came to what seemed a two foot 
square hole or window in the wall ; it was about 
three feet from the ground. She wanted me to go 
in, but recollecting the warning St. Peter gave 
me, I would not go in, but took a good peep, 
and there was fighting, cutting, shooting, and a 
great uproar going on in there. She tried to 
push me in, but failed. In an instant she turned 
to the ugliest old hag immaginable, and flew at 
me. I ran up the hill, the old she-devil and all 
the snakes and beasts after me. It was nip and 
tuck as to whether I should gain the top of the 
hill or get killed by them. Out of breath, at last 
I reached the big, plain road near the big brass 
folding doors. After resting and looking at the 
animals and snakes sneaking back, I arose and 
went up to the brass door and gave it a very 
vigorous kicking, when St. Peter came out smil- 
ing and said he was glad to see me safe from the 
bewitching Miss Fascination. I heard the same 
delightful music on the inside, and could see the 
pure, white, mellow light over Uncle Peter's 
head. I told him I had done what he told me 
and that I now wanted to go in. He tried to 
persuade me to go back to where I had left my 
comrade, Capt. B. I told him I would not; 
that I was going in. Again I tried force, but he 
pushed me back and told me that I could not 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 291 

get in for 32 or 42 years, I forgot which ; there 
was a 2 in it, and it was one or the other. He 
then closed the big brass doors, and I heard the 
key turn in the lock, looked up and read " White 
Paper" again and went down the road a piece, 
recognized the tree where I came up to the main 
road, went down there, found Capt. B. still sit- . 
ting on the ledge of rocks and looking at the 
beautiful scenery at the foot of the mountains. 
Sat down by him awhile. Could see people 
plowing way down in the fields; saw houses, 
barns, orchards, etc. After resting awhile we 
started to go down, when Capt. B. said he was 
afraid he would miss his footing and roll down 
the mountain. Several farmers saw us coming 
and got their guns and shot at us, but they did 
not harm us. We alighted on a barn, talked 
to the farmers, came down and went into their 
houses, and was just in the act of taking the first 
mouthful when I was roused by the Adjutant 
shaking me and saying : "Get up, Sergeant Major, 
we have orders to go to Vicksburg; go and tell 
the captains to get ready as soon as they can." 

That is my dream roughly told. The next 
day I had a brother soldier shot down by my 
side and eighteen others of the regiment were 
wounded. 



292 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

Did the dream have anything to do but to 
warn me that shortly I would be in imminent 
danger, and that my time was not to be yet ? I 
pondered over this dream and have often, since 
the war, thought over it. It was the first one I 
ever had that caused me to stop and think. 

Yours truly, 

Maj. Elijah Sneezeweed, Esq. 

The foregoing is one of the most remarka- 
ble of dreams. It furnishes good illustrations of 
the manner in which previous ideas, opinions and 
prejudices become blended with revelation in the 
foreshadowing of events. But there are most 
certainly no oneirocritics living who could by 
interpretation have foretold in detail all the 
events typically set forth in this dream, and 
probably none who, after studying the general 
history of those things, could give the interpre- 
tation in all of its details. For some parts of it 
have reference to traits of character of the dream- 
er, and to his unexpressed thoughts, intentions 
and wishes ; but the general import of it fully 
sustains our definitions of dream language. 
Saints, lions, tigers, girls, etc., are proved by the 
history of the matter to represent substantially 
what I have defined them as representing. 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 293 

The definition in reference to the appear- 
ance of ancient saints being connected with the 
scenes of death is sustained ; snakes also repre- 
sent men and difficulties. Lions and tigers rep- 
resent dangerous antagonists, either in individ- 
uals or an organized number of individuals. 
Girls represent evil or misfortune, whether they 
appear beautiful or homely. The music repre- 
sented the perfect arrangements of the enemy to 
repel the attacks, and the persistence of the 
dreamer to go in through the door of death rep- 
resented his determination to do his duty as a 
soldier, regardless of the danger; but the guar- 
dian care of kind providence resisted and turned 
him back when his footsteps were going toward 
death. And the same watchful providence gave 
him promise of yet many years to live, and also 
wisely concealed from him the precise date of his 
own death ; thus giving him a hint to live aright 
and keep business in proper order at all times. 
Surely some persons are providentially favored, 
and such persons are usually favored with re- 
markable dreams, as Major E. S. has been. 

THE END OF OUR CIVIL WAR FORSHADOWED. 

To the Editor of The Dream Investigator : — 
On the night before the surrender of General 
Lee. I dreamed I was on an eminence overlook- 



294 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

ing a vast plain. The sun was just rising, and 
the sky was perfectly clear. In the distance I 
could see great bodies of troops, and they all 
seemed to be hastening toward the center of the 
plain. As they drew near I could see that they 
were both Union and Confederate soldiers, and 
they advanced from opposite directions, clad in 
their respective blue and gray. The entire 
absence of officers on either side was remarkable. 
I did not see a commander nor hear an order of 
any kind, yet the men moved with military pre- 
cision, as if on review. In perfect silence they 
formed a great hollow square in the center of the 
plain, two sides gray, two sides blue. Each man 
then raised his musket or rifle, some with 
bayonets attached, as far as his arm would reach 
above his head, pointing to the sky. They stood 
in this way like statues for the space of a minute. 
Then the raised weapons began to flicker like 
slender flames of red, white and blue fire, they 
rose out of the hands that held them, and, unit- 
ing in the air above the armies, and over the 
center of the square, they formed the stars and 
stripes of the national flag. I regarded this 
beautiful and curious sight for some moments, 
until the flag seemed to lose itself in the sky. 
When I again looked down at the plain the sol- 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 295 

diers were all gone, and the sun was shining 
down on a great field of ripening wheat. 

I related my dream in the morning, and 
was laughed at by the whole family, of course, 
with the exception of a Scotch maid-servant, 
who called it a a cannie dream," and declared "it 
meant something." Two days afterward, we re- 
ceived news of the surrender of the Confederate 
forces to Gen. Grant. 

Grinnelly Iowa. mrs. m. h. a. 

Every reader who is familiar with the his- 
tory of the ending of our civil war and our re- 
turn to peace and prosperity will readily 
perceive a beautiful typical illustration of it in 
the foregoing dream. In accordance with my 
definition of dream language, the contemplation 
of the subject was represented by a vast plain as 
viewed by one standing upon an eminence. The 
ending of the trouble is aptly set forth by the 
rising morning sun, which disperses the night. 
The blue and the gray united in pointing their 
weapons heavenward, and the flickering flames 
of the strife was changed to the beautiful stars 
and stripes of our national flag. The shining 
sun and fields of ripening grain indicated a re- 
turn to peace, prosperity and a happy condition. 



296 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritiea. 
president Lincoln's last dream. 

Professor Proctor, of astronomical fame, re- 
lates how the martyred President Lincoln, at the 
last cabinet meeting which he had, said to those 
around him with a very solemn face: "Gentle- 
men, something very extraordinary is going to 
happen and that very soon." The Attorney 
General observed : "Something good, sir, I 
hope," when the President answered : "I don't 
know; but it will happen, and shortly, too." 
The Attorney General asked : "Have you re- 
ceived any information, sir, not yet disclosed to 
us ?" " No," answered the President, "but I have 
had a dream, and I have now had the same dream 
three times — once on the night preceeding Bull 
Run, once on the evening before another battle, 
and this last night." "Might one ask the nature 
of this dream, sir?" said the Attorney General. 
Mr. Lincoln, who sat with his chin on his breast, 
replied : "Well, I am on a great, broad, rolling 
river, and I am in a boat and I drift and 1 drift 
— but this is not business, gentlemen (as Secre- 
tary Stanton entered), let us proceed to business." 
President Lincoln was shot down by Booth the 
same night. 

We much regret the entrance of the secre- 
tary, and interruption of Mr. Lincoln before he 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 297 

had finished the narration of his dream, for that 
portion of it which is given and the tragical 
event which followed so soon after, leads us to 
infer that the dream was one containing startling 
and important points. President Lincoln, like 
Nebuchadnezzar and others who appear promi- 
nently in connection with the great events of the 
world's history, had been convinced by personal 
experience of the prophetic truthfulness of 
dreams, and the vivid impressions which he re- 
ceived impelled him to make remarks of them 
regardless of popular prejudice against such 
belief. 

REMARKS OF MR. P., OF MAINE. 

James Monroe, Dear Sir: — I am an old 
dreamer, and fully believe in them when clear. 
Have dreamed hundreds of very peculiar things 
right to the point; was a somnambulist when a 
boy ; could see in the darkest room as in midday, 
and awake to find myself in the dark and find 
my way back to bed as best I could. From '52 
to '63 I played quite a hand in politics ; dreamed 
out results ahead correctly. Was connected with 
the Maine Legislature in '54 and '55, '57 and 
'58 ; then found that I had served just 365 days 
in the Hall of Representatives. I w^s backed 
by the Hon. Wm. Pitt Fessenden, who died 



298 Dreamer's Teaeher and Oneirocritica. 

Sept. 8, 1869. I published Legislative Register 
in '55 and '57, and was the only person who 
ever made money by doing it. In those days 
Blaine and I had many a social chat together. 
In 1857 his future course was foreshadowed to 
me, which he has carried out. He is the best 
representative of modern republicanism the party 
has, and I believe got more votes than any 
other known politician of his party could get. 
Though I circulated the paper in the Legislature 
of 1855 for signatures to form the Republican 
party of the State, which was done February 
22, 1855, in Winthrop Hall, Augusta, Maine, 
years ago I saw the party drift and got out from 
under. 

Last winter I predicted Cleveland's elec- 
tion if nominated ; was glad Blaine was up to 
whip their best man. Though the result was so 
close, I had predicted C.'s election and was re- 
joiced thereat. 

I have studied phenomena all my life, but 
have no interest in novels or fiction. 

My idea is that all the Lords, Gods and 
Jehovahs of olden time were only spirits, who 
communicated through those who were mediums, 
or professed to be ; and the highest worship is of 
humanity to humanity. Jesus, Thomas Paine, 
Ahraham Lincoln and Robert G. Ingersoll, are 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 299 

venerated for their wise doings, saying nothing 
of hundreds of mediums for good, like the late 
J. R. Newton and others. 

Your dreamers, politically, regarding the 
late election, hit the nail on the head as results 
proved. 

With best wishes for the success of the 
Dream Investigator I am, truly, etc. 

P. 

THE ASSASSINATION OF GARFIELD FORE- 
SHADOWED. 

From the Taunton (Mass.) Gazette of 1881. 

The Rev. D. P. Lindsley, of New York, 
writes to a friend in this city the following curi- 
ous incident, which occurred in his house a few 
weeks since : "Mrs. Lindsley, who died on the 
12th inst., had a singular premonition of the 
assassination of the President. I was watching 
by the bedside about three days before this sad 
occurrence, when she suddenly awakened from 
an apparent sleep, and exclaimed, excitedly, 
'President Garfield is shot V 'No/ I replied, 'I 
guess you were thinking of President Lincoln/ 
When her sister took my place at the bedside she 
repeated the matter to her with additional cir- 
cumstances. She said she was with the Presi- 
dent when he was shot, and said to the ladiea 



300 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

who were there: 'He will die, will he not?' 
They replied, l Oh, no ; he will get well." When 
the report of the attempted assassination arrived 
and was told in the siek room, she replied : 'I 
knew it three days ago/ and repeated her pre- 
vious statement. The circumstances can be re- 
lied upon as strictly true, and it gave me con- 
siderable hope from the first that our beloved 
President would survive the shock, and be com- 
pletely restored to health and soundness. As to 
the philosophy of the matter, I have nothing to 
say. I do not see how an occurrence can be 
seen in a vision before it happens, but there is 
abundant evidence that such is sometimes the 
case, and to deny it is to deny the fundamental 
principle and ground of all prophecy." 

The reverend gentleman named in the fore- 
going, not knowing that in dreams and visions 
ladies or women signified evil, and that words 
were generally irrelevant in such cases, and only 
signified action in the matter, therefore he was 
misled to believe that President Garfield would 
recover. 

DREAM OF K. D. GOODWIN, M. D. 

St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 9, 1884. 
Editor Dream Investigator: — Being an in- 
vestigator of dreams, visions, etc., of long years 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 301 

experience, and having many convincing proofs 
given myself of the truth in this and other direc- 
tions, I feel it a duty I owe others to add my 
testimony in aid of your very laudable efforts. 
Yes, I have dreamed many dreams and seen 
many visions which have been fulfilled to the 
letter — as warning before sickness, death y 
troubles, and of many clouds and bright sun- 
shine—during my long and eventful life, some 
of which have been in print. 

The ancient "Rosicrucians" upheld the 
truthfulness of such from their own knowledge 
of facts, and a part of their occult sciences. Yes r 
we get in dreams what cannot always be given 
us in waking moments, or when the brain is more 
acted upon by daily cares of life. Rosicrucians 
of the present day still know further upon this 
subject, and how to induce such modes of infor- 
mation as coming from spirit intelligence. We 
know how to construct the telegraph, telephone, 
etc., between the living seen and unseen. 

The following is one of a number of dreams 
recorded, which I send you for interpretation. 
I have cut it short, but I think you will under- 
stand it. Yours truly, 

R. D. Goodwin, M. D., 

G. H. P. of R's. 



302 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritiea. 

About five o'clock A. m., January 25th, 
1868, I dreamed that I was president of a large 
school, each class of which was represented by 
colored flags. The first five classes were blue, 
then two red, three green, two yellow and one 
white, making in all thirteen classes. After I 
had called up, reviewed and dismissed them, I 
walked out into a wide and spacious hall, when 
two young gentlemen rushed past me ; one was 
dressed in a large gray overcoat and black silk 
hat; the other (younger), was dressed in black, 
with a high-crowned green velvet cap. He had 
on a pair of skates, having some ice and mud 
upon them, which he commenced rubbing off on 
the red and black hall carpet, while they waited 
for the street cars to take them to the skating 
pond. Whilst looking at them an old lady 
passed. She wore a dark-colored (rather shabby) 
dress ; her bonnet was old-style — the long crown 
— which hung down on her left side, nearly 
touched her shoulder; it was made of brown- 
colored glazed cotton padding. She looked care- 
worn and sad. She advanced and raised a 
window to get the fresh air, when a woman, ap- 
parently a servant of the house, followed, and 
asked if she was on speaking terms with Mr. 

and Mrs. (I could not understand the 

name). She shook her head, and replied, "No." 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 303 

Seeing that she could not get the window to re- 
main up, I took a screw driver from my pocket 
and put in a screw nail. Then turning away 
from them I saw an old man advance towards 
me ; he was very tall, thin and haggard looking. 
He said he was sick, so I showed him into a 
small room to the right of the hall, where he lay 
down on a shelf. I asked him what was the 
matter with him. He told me he had been badly 
treated by Gen. Grant. At this a number of 
other gentlemen came into the hall, (it was in 
the White House), one of them stepped forward 
and questioned the sick man, after which he came 
out and said, "that man is a liar, imposter, de- 
ceiver," etc. I was then on my way down a 
flight of stone steps into the street. I replied : 
"Well, Gen. Grant will soon be here and he will 
have a chance to acquit himself with honor." 
The sick man's name was Abraham Lincoln. 
I crossed the street at an angle from the White 
House Hall, where I was going to take charge 
of a funeral. On my ascending the steps in 
front of this mansion I saw many men there^ 
and on planting my foot upon the first step a 
black snake sprang up to bite me, when I kicked 
it. from me but did not stop to kill it. I then 
saw the black velvet coffin trimmed with silver 
lace, advancing to the door, being carried upon 



304 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

men's shoulders, under charge of Gen. Grant. 
I rushed up, feeling very indignant at what I 
considered a usurpation of my rights. I stopped 
the coffin on the spot, and putting my hand on 
Grant's shoulder, said : "I beg your pardon, sir ; 
I believe as I am undertaker I have command 
here." The General, seeming somewhat embar- 
rassed, replied : "Oh, I thought you were not 
coming." I answered : "I believe I am in 
time." The corpse in the coffin was that of 
Andrew Johnson. I awoke 

The dream of Dr. Goodwin described in the 
foregoing contains some remarkable points, which 
are good for our instruction in the language of 
dreams. The dream evidently had reference to 
the political history of our country, extending 
from the time just previons to the dream to sev- 
eral years later. 

In accordance with our rules, the character, 
mental associations and predilections of the dream- 
er controls the form of the illustration. The truth 
of this rule is apparent in all dreams or visions, 
either ancient or modern, consequently a dream 
relating to political matters generally betrays the 
political preferences of the dreamer ; therefore 
we infer from the dream, as well as from the re- 
marks of the doctor, that his political prefere- 
nces were in favor of the Democratic party. Al- 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 305 

though the dream had some reference to the suc- 
cess or defeat of individuals, it had more especial 
reference to the success or defeat or parties. 

The thirteen school classes reviewed in the 
dream had reference to the thirteen original 
states of the Union, and it appears singular that 
only the original thirteen should appear in the 
dream at a time when there were more than 
thirty belonging to our Union. The colored 
flags had reference to certain peculiarities of the 
original thirteen states in reference to the 
triumph of political parties. We are not pre- 
pared with historical data sufficiently to enable 
us to locate with certainty the various colors of 
the flags seen in this dream, but w T ould suggest 
the idea that the five blue flags represented the 
five free original states which were loyal to the 
Republican party in the presidential election, 
namely : Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecti- 
cut, New York and Pennsylvania. The two red 
flags represented the two original slave states 
which did not secede, namely : Delaware and 
Maryland. The three green flags represented 
the three original slave states which were for a 
time out of the Union, namely : North Carolina, 
South Carolina and Georgia. The two yellow 
flags represented two original states which were 
not wholly on one side or the other in regard to 
20 



306 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

secession or the presidential election*. Virginia 
in regard to secession, and New Hampshire in 
regard to the election. New Jersey alone of the 
original thirteen, remained loyal to the Demo- 
cratic party, therefore she was represented by a 
white flag to a Democratic dreamer. 

The dreamer being a Democrat, and his 
party then having been recently defeated in the 
defeat of Seymour, the burden of his mind was 
the question : What is the political future of our 
country? And the dream was the answer to 
those thoughts, giving a vague outline of the 
political future until a change of administration 
should occur. All the details of the dream un- 
doubtedly have their symbolic counterpart in 
subsequent political history, but we would not 
attempt to give more than its general significa- 
tion. 

In the first place we should refer to the 
rules which apply to this case, namely : Indi- 
viduals and names are generally not literal, but 
typical of other persons. Defeat is represented 
by sick persons, and also by old and feeble per- 
sons. Tall men represent men distinguished for 
ability. Words spoken signify action in the 
matter which is the subject of the dream, and 
they seldom signify more. The feeble old lady, 
shabbily dressed, and funeral proceedings, clearly 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 307 

had reference to party defeat, perhaps to more 
than one defeat. 

General Grant's appearance so conspicuously 
in the dream was caused by the dreamer's pre- 
vious mental associations in reference to the 
administration of Gen. Grant and his re-election, 
and had no reference to the General's connection 
with private speculations in later years. The 
source of dream inspiration, when dealing with 
national affairs, does not step aside to note the 
private acts of individuals. 

THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION — CLEVELAND 
AHEAD. 

From the Dream Investigator of October, 1884. 

At this writing (September 20, 1884), we 
have but a small portion of what we expect from 
the political dreamers in regard to the present 
presidential campaign, but so far as reports of 
dreams and visions are in, Grover Cleveland is 
ahead, as appears from the following : 

1st. In the month of September, and year 
1880, a certain gentleman (a Republican), resid- 
ing in the state of Kansas, while prostrated with 
fever upon his bed, fell into a visionary state, in 
which he saw many spirits, and still retaining 
his consciousness, he mentally asked that he 
might see the result of the political campaign 



308 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

which was then agitating the country. And m 
answer to his mental request he was shown a 
round ring, and a man of good appearance ad- 
vanced to the ring and took a seat. Soon after 
the man moved to the left and another took his 
place. Next after that the ring took the form of 
the letter "D." Now it appears that Garfield 
and Arthur have fulfilled the first part of the 
dream, and the change of the ring to the form of 
the letter "D" is suggestive of the success of the 
Democratic party. 

The foregoing vision was written and sent 
to us nearly four years ago. 

2d. A certain man (also a republican), 
residing in the state of Tennessee, recently 
dreamed that he was at a political meeting, and 
those present were all Republicans, and all ap- 
peared very happy and jubilant. But soon after 
they were less jubilant, and negroes appeared in 
their midst and their unhappiness increased, and 
so did the number of negroes, until they raised a 
great riot and broke up in confusion. 

Negroes, we have defined as representing 
scoundrels, error, ignorance, misfortune and 
death, and in this case I judge they represent the 
misfortunes about to overtake the Republican 
party. 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 309 

And the change from a jubilant mood to 
one of sadness, riot and confusion also points to 
the defeat of that party. And yet my judgment, 
based upon the general situation of political 
affairs, gathered from the news of the day, has, 
up to a late date, been the reverse of that de- 
duced from the foregoing dreams. 

3d. A gentleman (Republican), residing 
in Chicago, dreamed that there were two piles of 
ice. It was said that one pile was Democratic 
ice and the other was Republican ice. The 
Democratic ice was in the shade, but the Repub- 
lican ice was exposed to the sun and was melting 
and dripping. A Republican said : " We put up 
ice for the summer heat, they against it." Many 
other scenes followed, but none indicated de- 
cided results, unless the melting of the ice indi- 
cated the result. 

STILL POINTING TOWARD GROVER CLEVELAND. 

From the Little Rock (Arkansas) Gazette. 

4th. The reading of Jessup's dream in last 
Sunday's Gazette, called to my mind a singular 
prophecy made by an eccentric old man named 
Taylor, in January, 1865. Taylor then lived 
near Brownsville, Tenn., and Mr. Joe Biggs, 
James Hooker and myself, then in the confed- 
erate army, took refuge in his house from a snow 



310 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritica. 

storm then prevailing. The old gentleman was 
a pronounced union man, and was tolerated by 
his neighbors on account of his eccentricity, and 
they said, "the old man is crazy. " 

He met us at the door and at once com- 
menced to preach and prophesy from the bible, 
and continued to until we left, which was about 
four hours. Among the many things he prophe- 
sied he said : 

You are rebel soldiers and want to break 
up this union, but you can't do it. God has de- 
creed that the south must live under the govern- 
ment of the north, and the rebellion cannot 
succeed. The southern armies will surrender in 
May or June, and Lincoln will cease to be presi- 
dent a short time before March 4, 1865, or a 
short time after, I cannot tell which. A quasi 
peace will be established in May or June, 1865, 
and the government will then be administered 
by the Lincoln party for about twenty years. 
Then a new man, almost unknown to the nation, 
will be taken up by the opposition party and 
elected president." 

I refer to Biggs and Hooker, who live at 
or near Colliersville, Tenn,, for the verification 
of this statement. We, too, said the old man was 
crazy, but the death of President Lincoln, with 
the surrender of the southern armies, were so 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 311 

fully iu accordance with the prophecy of Mr. 
Taylor that we were forced to believe that the 
' old man had method in his madness. — W. J. 
Duval. 

THE POLITICAL DREAMS OF C. A. DILG, DEC. 

27th, 1883. 

[Unimportant Matter Omitted.] 

To the Editor of Dream Investigator: 

"Change. The public square is turned 
into large interior of some exposition building. 
Find myself on gallery and see a fine looking 
pugilist with boxing gloves on his hands stand- 
ing in position on angle or corner of gallery -way. 
See pile of boxing gloves lie to left of him as 
if for sale. His appearance becoming repulsive 
to my mind I evade him. Walking further on 
find the old lieutenant-colonel of my regiment 
seated on floor of gallery; he is a cripple, having 
both of his legs missing. Converse with him. 
He, too, is of the opinion that the Democrats 
ought not to rule this nation. Differing with 
him, we part company soon after. 

"Change. Now find myself in some by- 
streets surrounded by old barns and stables and 
other such kinds of buildings. See also some 
negro log-huts. Am on open piece of ground, 
as seems, for to left of me see another open piece 



312 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 



of ground surrounded by a rail fence. Seems as 
if exciting times were agitating the minds of the 
people. Just then see a man in open field to left 
of me jump over fences in wild frenzy. See him 
also tear a rail from fence and swinging the same 
over his head, exclaim in wild anger : "Cleve- 
land's election is a fraud and calculated to work 
mischief; his election meant free trade, etc. ; that 
he and all the soldiers were against him." Now 
while he is still wild with mad frenzy, find myself 
just opposite the negro huts. Now see some rag- 
ged but sullen negroes with w T hom I am convers- 
ing with the intention of allaying their apparent 
fears. Just then the door of the cabin in front 
of me is thrown open with great force and 
negroes in great numbers come rushing out, 
jumping and yelling as if possessed of some fit ol 
madness. See them tear open the front of their 
shirts ; see their naked black breasts. They act 
as if in great agony, tearing their hair, etc. 
Hear them yell : "Cleveland means free trade ; 
we can't afford it ; we are poor ; we will again 
become slaves; we will not allow it; we will 
fight and die first." The scene was painful in- 
deed, but I keep cool, and tried hard to explain 
matters to them, but fail. 

"Change. In some open building, an an- 
nex to the main building seen before. See large 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 313 

raised platform, which is made of new pine planks, 
on which, in center around stand of some kind, 
I see high officials standing. All seem in great 
agitation and excitement, as if expecting some 
dread event. The leading man at desk upon 
this steps up and in a clear, loud voice, says : 
"Now let the 69th Ohio come forward if he be 
the brave man we think him." A silence fol- 
lows which is but momentary ; all eyes are turned 
to the west end of the walls of the building 
(which is also composed of new pine planks) 
to see the man about to take charge of the 
speaker's stand. Just then am amazed to find 
that my friend (mentioned further up) comes 
from out the center of the west end of wall, and, 
stepping boldly up to speaker's stand, exclaims : 
"If the 69th Ohio cannot, none else can." All 
breathe more freely at his words, and all fear 
sefcms to disappear. 

"Now, what do you make of this dream? 
In this connection I would state that during the 
exciting times prior to the official declaring of 
New York's vote, and while still all was con- 
fusion, I had the following dream (recorded 
Nov. 6th and 7th ; this is a true copy, verbatim) : 

"Vision in morning is : Try to get result of 
presidential election, as do many others. Some 
Democrat is speaking to negro, who tells him 



314 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritica. 

(yet it appears as if he were telling this to me), 
"The Democrats have it, sure." The negro 
down-hearted after this. Next see him seated on 
sidewalk with both legs off below the knee. 
We advance closer and observe that the negro 
.is dead. He has an army suit on. While ex- 
amining him his rear is exposed, whilst his 
blouse is soiled as if from running sores of cor- 
ruption. His sight disgusts me." 

Chas. A. Dilg. 

The foregoing dream occurred before the 
result of the late presidential election was known, 
and had reference to events connected with and 
following the results of said election. 

The dreamer had undoubtedly been reflect- 
ing upon the coming changes, when he had a 
forecast of the matter typically presented to his 
mind, and in accordance with the rule, typical 
revelations are clothed with the most familiar 
associations of the mind of the dreamer; and it 
appears that the dreamer had been a soldier, and 
was therefore most impressed with scenes con- 
nected with the army, and nothing could more 
aptly tipify the action of the great political par- 
ties than the movement of armies and the scenes 
connected therewith. 

The dream is quite lengthy, and undoubt- 
edly has reference to various matters connected 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 315 

with a change of party administration. In fact, 
some of those matters are quite clearly set forth. 
Cripples, and crippled negroes and dead negroes 
all point to defeat ; and although the words and 
expressions are mostly irrelevant, yet the gen- 
eral drift of it, and the apparent relation of the 
parties, indicate defeat to the ruling party and a 
change of party administration. The exposure 
of the body of the dead negro undoubtedly had 
reference to discoveries of corrupt practices in 
the defeated and outgoing administration. 

POLITICAL DREAMS OF VARIOUS PERSONS. 

3. After the election, and before the result 
was known in the case of Cleveland and Blaine, 
who represent the two great political parties of 
our country, a certain Mr. B., a Republican 
undertaker, prefaced and narrated a fresh dream 
experience to the writer as follows : "Being a 
candidate for coroner, my poor stomach was nec- 
essarily abused by the vile stuff of which I was 
obliged to partake with my friends, and when I 
slept it caused me to dream that there was a 
great funeral on hand and many societies and or- 
ders were present, and it suddenly occurred to me 
in the dream that I had forgotten to order the 
carriages, and I felt dreadfully mortified that I 
had made such a blunder in failing to perform 
my duty as an undertaker." 



316 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

Although the result of the election was then 
unknown, we remarked to the dreamer that the 
funeral had reference to his political party. It 
was not a gorged stomach dream, but a true fore- 
shadowing of the political funeral of his party. 
This was a fit illustration of defeat, and in ac- 
cordance with the rule, that the most familiar 
objects and associations of the mind are presented 
to represent the fact revealed. The ill-feeling 
experienced in the dream also signified that ill 
luck was foreshadowed t$ the dreamer, and that 
fact has since been demonstrated by the returns 
of the election and the defeat of his party* 
although he was re-elected to the office of coro- 
ner. 

4. During the latter part of the Blaine and 
Cleveland election campaign, Mr. E., a Republi- 
can, dreamed that there had been a great flood of 
water in the night time, and it had washed a 
channel in front of his house about thirty feet 
deep. When he awoke (as he dreamed) and 
looked out upon the scene the waters had sub- 
sided. 

Interpretation. — High and rapid water signi- 
fies excitement among the people, and properly 
represented the election campaign. Sleep repre- 
sents an unconscious condition in regard to the 
result of the matter which it has reference to, and 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 317 

darkness of night time also represents inability 
to perceive results. But the plain view of the 
scene after the night had passed, and he had 
awakened, fitly typified the condition of the mat- 
ter after the result became known to him and the 
excitement had subsided. 

Similar to the foregoing is the following : 
5. Miss W., whose first choice for presi- 
dent was John P. St. John and whose second 
choice for the same office was James G. Blaine r 
dreamed just before the result of the election was 
known that she was walking in the bed of a 
stream, and there appeared to have been a flood 
which had just subsided. She next appeared to 
be in a house with her father and her mother. 
Her father was in bed, but her mother was up 
and sweeping the house. 

Interpretation. — The first part of the dream, 
like the one preceding it, in accordance with the 
rules, plainly has reference to the election, and 
the mother, who represents misfortune or defeat,, 
being up and active, while the father, who rep- 
resents success, was quietly resting in bed, signi- 
fied the active triumph of misfortune to her in 
her choice of parties. The mother sweeping very 
cutely typifies the sweeping changes of office- 
holders, upon a change of administration. 



318 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 
dream of mr. g., of tennessee. 

October, 1884. 

To the Editor of the Dream Investigator : — 
"I had a dream the other night; yes, in fact, 
two of them, and I want to give them to you to 
meditate upon. I had been in company of Mr. 
R. (who is a candidate for the legislature) to 
speak at a political meeting in the suburbs of our 
city I did not get home till one o'clook on the 
following morning, and after retiring and falling 
to sleep, I dreamed that I was crossing a high 
bridge over a tolerably rapid river. I was on a 
train, and as I peered over the side I jioticed the 
bridge was shaky and many of the timbers were 
gone; in fact, only just the two pieces which the 
rails laid on were left in the last span of the 
bridge. I got over in safety and met a lady ac- 
quaintance whom 1 was glad to see. (I don't 
recollect who she was). The banks around us 
were green and smooth, and the train just going 
out of sight, when another train came in sight 
going the opposite direction and on a different 
track, but over the same perilous bridge which 
we had just crossed. I rose in alarm, but before 
i could move the new train (which was loaded 
with people, all men) ran onto the bridge, which 
was crushed beneath the weight, the hind cars 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 319 

ran onto the front ones, and the roofs of all of 
them were crushed in, even the last car, which 
was on the top, had its roof crushed and its win- 
dows broken out, and there was a mingling of 
legs, arms and human forms in the wreck. I 
remember having a feeling of relief as I looked 
at it. I then awoke. 

"I soon fell asleep again and had the follow- 
ing dream : I thought I was standing on the side 
of the market-place (public square in our city) 
in the center of which was a raised platform, like 
that at Fountain Square, in Cincinnati. I then 
thought that Mr. R. (our candidate for the legis- 
lature) came upon the platform and began to 
speak, but before he had spoken many words, a 
very well known farrier in the city, came out of 
his shop with his apron on, and his face flushed 
with anger, and having a heavy hammer raised 
in one hand in a threatening manner, and rapidly 
approaching Mr. R. When they were near 
together they stood for a moment in heated dis- 
cussion — the farrier very much excited and angry, 
while Mr. R. was cool and unmoved. Presently 
the farrier returned rapidly to his shop, and Mr. 
R. remained standing as before. The strange 
thing about it was that while I thought Mr. R. 
was making a speech the market place was 
empty, and even I was concealed from him. 



320 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritica. 

But just as the farrier ran back to his shop, two 
persons (old acquaintances of mine living near to 
father's), appeared at my side dressed in uniforms. 
We spoke a few words and the whole vision 
vanished. 

"There were two incidents in connection 
with the above dreams that I don't remember to 
have ever had impressed upon me in a dream 
before, and that was directions. In the first 
dream the train that I was on crossed the river 
from east to west, w T hile the train that was wrecked 
was going from west to east, and the broken 
place in the bridge was ]ust at the western end of 
the bridge or tressel. The incident in the other 
dream was that Mr. R. was on the south side of 
the square (or market place) while I was on the 
north side, and the shop which the farrier came 
out of was on the west side." 

editor's reply. 

To make a positive prediction based upon 
the foregoing dreams would be a very unprofit- 
able work, since one failure before the public 
would overbalance a very large number of suc- 
cessful predictions. And in this case the two 
great political parties are so evenly balanced 
that a prediction of the result of the election, if 
successful, would be regarded as only a good 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 321 

guess, and not as a test of the science of fore- 
knowledge. 

The subject of the election differs from most 
other subjects of dream revelation in having the 
basis for a prediction so nearly within the scope 
of the senses and judgment, and also from having 
but one alternativa point, and that in the present 
case, according to the senses and judgment, bor- 
dering upon the doubtful ; whereas most other 
subjects or events which are foreshadowed, have 
many points wholly beyond the scope of the 
senses or judgment; and in such cases a true 
prediction amounts to a full demonstration of the 
possibility of truthful revelation. However, in 
the case under consideration, we deem it our 
duty to offer a few suggestions in reference to 
the matter, and refer our readers to rules which 
we have previously published, and which are ap- 
plicable to the case. 

In the first place the rule is : Excepting 
accidents and very unexpected events, the sub- 
ject of the dream will be that which has recently 
been the chief subject of the dreamer's thoughts; 
therefore, when considering the circumstances 
uuder which the foregoing dream was experi- 
enced, we need not doubt its proper application 
to the present election campaign and its results. 

21 



322 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

Being on a high bridge or other place from 
which one might fall, signifies danger; but from 
the fact that the dreamer passed over in safety, 
and the other train coming on a different track 
from an opposite direction, I have no doubt but 
that he has concluded that his party would be 
successful in the presidential election, and that 
the Democratic party was typified by the train 
which went to destruction at the bridge. 
But we think such a conclusion is not clearly 
sustained when we consider all of the facts and 
surroundings of the dreamer. He was interested 
in the presidential election, and also in the elec- 
tion of his state and legislative district ; especially 
in the latter, because the candidate was his rela- 
tive and law partner, (as I chance to know)- 
Therefore we infer that the train on which he rode 
had reference to the success of his party and law 
partner in his legislative district, and that the 
train representing the presidential election would 
probably appear upon another track, although of 
the same political party. We would also add 
that trains running in opposite directions, when 
the cardinal points are a distinct feature in the 
case (as stated in this case), may not necessarily 
signify opposite parties, but may represent two 
forms of one party, one of which is running to 
success and the other to defeat. Therefore the 






Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 323 

direction from which the dreamer's train came 
from, as well as the safe passage over the bridge, 
signified success, and the direction which the 
other train came from, as well as its destruction 
at the bridge, signified defeat to the party it rep- 
resented, though it might or might not be of the 
same party which was successful in another 
matter and represented by the successful train 
going in an opposite direction. Under the cir- 
cumstances as related by the dreamer, we believe 
his dreams would only have reference to his own 
party, and consequently signified its defeat. 

dream experience of mr. t. n. b., of n. y. 

October, 1884. 

To the Editor of the Dream Investigator : — 
Sir : I will relate two or three of my political 
dreams, and I will first say that I am a Butler 
man and anti-monopolist. 

The first dream is this : My mother was 
sitting in the front stoop, myself and hired man 
standing on the ground in front, all facing the 
east. At once my attention was drawn to the 
sky in the east. About half way to the zenith 
was an Indian mounted on horseback going 
north, with bow and arrow drawn, and a long 
flock of crows following after, extending far to 
the south. Then I looked again and said : "I 



324 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

wish I had my field glass. " The scene then 
changed, and I saw a former hired man come 
out of the grain barn dressed in zouave uniform. 
The dream made a deep impression. 

Second. The next dream is as follows : 
Looking ahead of me I saw a few gypsies and I 
said they could foretell the future. Coming to 
them they were in a hog-yard where there were 
some store hogs. The scene changed again. 
Butler was driving the hogs north through a 
narrow path which had a board fence on each 
side with regular openings. Myself and my 
brother were guarding the openings, one of us 
on each side. Benjamin said if he could get 
them through there he would thresh his way up 
north. We got through safe. 

Third. The next I stood on the northwest 
shore of a large body of water bordered by a 
large piece of woods on the west, and I saw two 
dead bodies on the water in front of me, and 
could not discover who they were. My mother 
appeared to the right and a little behind me and 
pointed back to the north to a banner, on which 
was inscribed "June 5th, 1884." Then I saw 
the bodies up in the air above the water, and I 
sailed up there to come down in the water and 
was submerged, then came back again on the 
north shore where there was a man. This was 
an unpleasant dream. 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 325 

The three next preceding dreams experienced 
and reported by Mr. T. N. B. have reference 
wholly to the rise and progress of the Butler 
party and their defeat in the present presidential 
campaign and to no other party. 

For one to dream of the presence of his 
mother signifies misfortune, and the gentleman's 
mother appeared twice in these dreams. Dead 
bodies upon the water also signifies moral or 
political death. But this is, of course/what that 
party expects in this campaign. 

The mounted Indian with his bow and 
arrow represents General Butler. 

Birds flying represent ideas. The im- 
mense flock of crows following the mounted 
Indian had reference to the numerous reform 
ideas which are entertained by the numerous 
members of the Butler and anti-monopoly parties. 
[We will add that in some cases a flock of crows 
may represent people.] 

Dress represents title or profession, conse- 
quently the man who came out of the barn 
wearing the zouave dress represented the labor 
organizations which united with other branches 
of the Butler party. 

Butler is typically confined within a narrow 
passage between two great political parties as 
represented by the passage between the two 
fences. 



326 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

There was another point connected with the 
third dream which signified misfortune, and that 
was an unpleasant feeling at the end of the dream. 

The inscription of "June 5th, 1884," pointed 
out by the mother, signifies defeat for him who 
was nominated on that day. If one had dreamed 
that his father had pointed to that, it would have 
signified success. 

The hogs may aptly represent all parties, 
and Benjamin will find a heavy job in driving 
them in the direction which he wishes them to go. 

DREAM OF MR. M., OF MINNESOTA. 

To the Editor of the Dream Investigator : — 
I have frequently had dreams foreshadowing the 
result of political campaigns, in which I was en- 
gaged, and such dreams have always proved to 
be a reliable "omen." 

A few years ago I took an active part 
against a candidate who was quite noted for his 
"machine" methods. Two weeks before election 
I dreamed that I was seated in a beautiful little 
row-boat, rowing along easily in a canal with 
banks two or three feet high on each side. Sud- 
denly a large canal boat appeared behind me, 
and in a moment my boat was lifted to the tow- 
path and the large boat passed me and stopped. 
The name of the boat, I noticed, was "Machinist," 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences'. 327 

which was painted in a curve on the stern, and I 
remember thinking in my dream what a singular 
name it was for a boat. Before the day of elec- 
tion I had read my dream aright. I concluded 
that the row-boat represented my own party, and 
the large boat the "machinist's party, and that 
we would be defeated. This was a correct 
"diagnosis," for the "machinist" won. 

Again, quite recently, I dreamed that I was 
in a manufacturing city. Opposite to me was a 
row of brick buildings, two and three stories 
high, which seemed to be boarding houses for 
working men. The windows and doors seemed 
to be filled with men of all nationalities and 
races, and all seemed to be in high spirits, sing- 
ing, laughing and calling to each other, and 
those at the upper windows seemed to step out 
into the street as readily as those on the ground 
floor. Next I saw a high tower, on the top of 
which was a square building which I saw was a 
factory of some kind. The men were gathering 
to begin work, and the singular feature was that 
they came on wings. The air around the building 
was filled with operatives, and off to the west 
there was a great flock, like a flocks of birds, 
coming on wings. Here, too, I noticed they all 
seemed to be in high spirits. 



328 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

Does this refer to the political movement of 
the workingmen, or has it some wider signifi- 
cance, if any? 

editor's beply. 

In regard to Mr. M.'s last dream, the build- 
ing represented national politics, and the people 
in the several stories of the building the several 
political parties. Those occupying the ground 
floor would represent the successful party ; but 
there was nothing in the dream to show which 
that party was. 

In the next scene was a high tower or 
monument, with a building upon the top of it. 
This aptly represents one of the presidential can- 
didates, and the political organization which has 
staked their success upon his monumental reputa- 
tion ; and from the comparative national reputa- 
tion of the presidential candidates of the two 
chief political parties, we must infer that the 
monument has reference to James G. Blaine. 
We would also infer the same from the fact that 
the dreamer is a republican, and, therefore, in 
accordance with the rule, his dream would have 
reference to the fortunes of his own party. 

We have noticed, in many political dreams 
recently sent in, that there appears a factory with 
machinery and workmen. This aptly represents 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 329 

party organization and political machinery, and 
the workingmen seen around those factories rep- 
resent the political "wire-pullers." 

Things seen in the air have reference to the 
mind, and the workmen coming to the factory 
through the air represent the attempt to control 
the public mind and manufacture public opinion. 

But yet in this there is nothing which en- 
ables us to point out the party which will be suc- 
cessful in the approaching election, unless it be 
the direction from which the men were seen to 
come ; and it is seldom one dreams of direction 
in relation to the cardinal points of the compass, 
and it is very singular, too, that of six dreams 
relating to political affairs recently sent in by 
three gentleman, residing severally in Minnesota, 
New York and Tennessee, every one of them 
have the cardinal points described as a distinct 
feature. One of the gentlemen remarks that it 
is the first time he remembers to have had the 
direction so impressed in a dream. Therefore 
we must infer that the direction is an important 
factor in the matter. 

We gave a partial definition of the cardinal 
points in the September number of the the Dream 
Investigator. We would not change the defini- 
tion there given. 



330 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

If that conclusion be correct the foregoing 
dreams relating to the presidential election auger 
ill for the republican party. [And so it proved 
at the election.] 

CLEVELAND AND BLAINE BY MAJOR E. S. 

Feb. 29th, 1885. 

For the Dream Investigator: — "There was 
something strange that I dreamed of Blaine and 
Logan's nomination at Chicago, but never had 
any of the least importance during the whole can- 
vas in regard to them or the republican party. 
But since the election I have had several that 
seemed to have some significance in their favor. 
I have also dreamed of Cleveland twice ; once a 
month ago. He was lost in the woods, and was 
looking up the trees as he walked along, and 
seemed to be in deep thought or trouble." 

INTERPRETATION. 

The deep thought and troubled state of 
Cleveland's mind, as seen in the foregoing dream, 
undoubtedly had reference to his mental efforts 
in selecting his cabinet, for he appeared to be 
looking up the trees, and trees represent institu- 
tions and individuals. In this case he was 
probably looking for individuals to fill his 
cabinet. 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 33 1 

FROM THE SAME. 

> 2d. Last night (Feb. 28th, 1885) I dreamed 
that Cleveland came to my house and stayed a 
long time, but that he said but little, and looked 
sallow and dark complected, with blue eyes, but 
not like the photos I have seen of him. He 
went away, but had not been gone long when he 
returned and borrowed of me a Cincinnati Com- 
mercial that I was reading, and after some time 
he again returned the paper. I and another per- 
son in my dream tried to cheer him up by telling 
stories, and at last we got him to laugh quite 
heartily. 

INTERPRETATION. 

Cleveland came to the house of the dreamer 
as he typically comes to the house of every per- 
son by becoming their chief magistrate. The 
long time which he stayed represented the length 
of his official term. The good or ill appearance 
of Cleveland in the dream would depend upon 
the political standpoint of the dreamer. It is 
the moral quality of the man, either colored or 
bleached by the personal bias of the dreamer's 
mind, which is seen in dreams; therefore, in the 
dream of a Democrat Cleveland would appear 
very grand and noble, while in the dream of a 
Republican he would appear quite otherwise ; 



332 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritica. 

consequently we may infer from the sallow and 
dark appearance of Cleveland in this dream that 
the dreamer is not a Democrat. 

In the first part of the foregoing dream Mr. 
Cleveland appears to represent himself in his 
official capacity, but further on I think he rep- 
resents his party ; therefore his return after going 
away may or may not signify his re-election, but 
I have no doubt it signifies success again for the 
Democratic party in the next presidential elec- 
tion. And this is not strange, since it is well 
known that a party in power during an election 
possesses immense advantages over other parties. 
And I would remark, by the way, that no party 
has made any effort to lessen the advantages 
which a political party in power has in the con- 
trol of the elections. This is probably owing to 
the fact that the "ins" are unwilling to yield up 
the advantages which they possess, and the 
outs hope to become "ins" at some future time, 
and therefore they wish to continue the corrupt 
practices indefinitely. But the people should 
learn to organize their power and compel the re- 
form of many enormous abuses which have 
sprung up in our government. 

Speaking in dreams signifies action ; there- 
fore Cleveland saying little, signified that there 
will be little change in the policy of the govern- 
ment. 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 333 

FROM THE SAME. 

3d. A few months ago I dreamed that a 
man by the name of Phile came up the street, 
going east, and he bore a transparency with the 
pictures of all the presidents, George Washing- 
ton in the middle, and the others all around the 
edges, and tassels hanging all around the whole,. 
The man was followed by quite a crowd, and he 
stopped in the center of the amphitheater and 
stood his transparency in front of and only a few 
feet from James G. Blaine, who was sitting in a 
large arm chair. Everybody looked first at the 
large picture of Washington, and then one man 
said: u Mr. Blaine looked like Washington/' 
and the whole people agreed that he did. 
There was then a silence of a few minutes, when 
some man in the audience ro^e and said he could 
see a little difference between Blaine and Wash- 
ington ; that Blaine had a wart on his nose and 
Washington had not. I was behind Mr. Blaine's 
chair and did not verify this, but I thought it 
was a very small defect. Mr. Blaine arose and 
started eastward up the street, and soldiers, citi- 
zens and everybody but a very few followed, and 
the man with the pictures was behind Mr. Blaine 
as they marched off. 



334 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneiroeritica. : 

INTERPRETATION. 

The name of the man who was carrying the 
transparency was probably irrelevant to the case, 
and had no signification. It probably originated 
in some previous associations of the mind ; but 
the person represented the Republican press and 
party politicians who were trying to place James 
G. Blaine in the list of presidents of the United 
States. The great crowd represented the party 
as a w T hole. Dream revelations have reference to 
events in the future, but in reference to a subject, 
the events of which belong to both the past and 
future, all are represented together, and some of 
the preceding dream may have reference to the 
action previously taken by .the party to place 
Mr. Blaine in the list of presidents. But if it 
has any reference to past events the future of 
the same subject would not be left out, and I 
think it clearly shows that Mr. Blaine will never 
be made a president of the United States. 

The chair which he was seen to occupy was 
not the presidential chair, but merely represented 
him in a position waiting for his party to make 
him president. The man who stated that Blaine 
had a wart on his nose represented a portion of 
the Republican party who have, or will, oppose 
Blaine ; and Blaine rising up and starting east- 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 335 

ward represents a time when he will have aban- 
doned all hope of ever being elected president of 
the United States. The direction in which he 
was seen going, if there was nothing more, 
signified defeat. Mr. Blaine sitting in the chair 
as central figure of the crowd, may represent the 
present aspect of affairs in the republican party, 
but before 1888 the man who discovered the 
wart will make his appearance, and Mr. Blaine 
will probably not be nominated, and if nominated 
certainly not elected. — [Dream Investigator of 
April, 1885. 

GEN. GRANT'S DREAM. 

New York, April 4, 1885. 

Both Drs. Douglas and Shrady were by his 
bedside when Gen. Grant woke. The dream he 
related to them was this : He thought he was 
off traveling somewhere and had but a single 
satchel. He thought he was very poor, only half 
dressed, and without money. This worried him 
a good deal, although, as he said, "I thought to 
myself that I ought to be used to it by this time." 
He felt himself altogether in a bad predicament, 
without money and without friends. He came to 
a fence, and got over it very awkwardly, there 
being a stile on one side only. When he got 
over he found that he had left the satchel on the 



336 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

other side and that he could not get it unless he 
paid duty on every step of the stile as he went 
back. Then he thought he would go home and 
borrow the money from Mrs. Grant. He found 
that she had only $17, and that was not enough, 
and then he was very glad to wake up. The 
general said his sensations during the dream were 
very real, and that he had been much troubled 
with the annoying adventures which had hap- 
pened to him. He could not explain what had 
led him to this train of thought." — Boston Herald. 

editor's remarks. 

Dreams experienced by one while suffering 
from illness are generally nothing more than the 
insane fancies of the unguided mind, as set forth 
in Vol. 1., page 11, of the Dream Investigator, 
but to this general rule I have known exceptions 
in which patients had vivid prophetic dreams 
but a few hours before death, after having suf- 
fered for many days or weeks from the disease of 
which they died. And this dream of General 
Grant's is one of the exceptions. Dreams that 
appear vivid and real, as this one did, are in- 
variably prophetic, and such a dream, received 
by one while suffering from severe illness, would 
undoubtedly have reference to the progress and 
termination of that illness. -The journey, satchel, 



Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 337 

fence, efforts and insurmountable difficulties 
which appear in Gen. Grant's dream, are typical 
illustrations of the progress and termination of 
his illness. The progress of the dream abounds 
in difficulties and ends in difficulties without re- 
lief; therefore we should predict a fatal termina- 
tion of the case. 

In symbolic dreams, an event or situation 
which runs through a greater or less duration of 
time, whether it be a business undertaking, 
business difficulties, one's whole period of life, 
or a period in which one suffers from disease, 
may be represented by seeming to be on a jour- 
ney ; therefore Gen. Grant's dream of being on a 
journey has reference to the period of his disease. 
His seeming to be poor and unprotected by 
clothing has reference to the insufficiency of the 
remedies which are made use of in his case. 
The satchel which he carried represented his 
hope of recovery, up to a certain stage of the 
case, and the fence represented the line or point 
where hope was abandoned, and the satchel, 
which represented his hope, was left behind. His 
efforts to recover the satchel probably represented 
the present efforts (April, 1885) to re-establish a 
hope of recovery; but the dream promises noth- 
ing favorable in the case. 

22 



338 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocritica. 

The foregoing was published in the Dream 
Investigator of May, 1885, and Gen. Grant died 
July 23d following. 

ETEBKAL JUSTICE. 

BY CHARLES MACKAY. 

The man is thought a knave or fool, 

Or bigot, plotting crime, 
Who, for the advancement of his kind, 

Is wiser than his time. 
For him the hemlock shall distill; 

For him the axe be bared, 
For him the gibbet shall be built; 

For him the stake prepared: 
Him shall the scorn and wrath of men 

Pursue with deadly aim; 
And malice, envy, spite and lies, 

Shall desecrate his name. 
But truth shall conquer at the last, 

For round and round we run, 
And ever the right comes uppermost, 

And ever is justice done. 

Pace through thy cell, old Socrates, 

Cheerily to and fro; 
Trust to the impulse of thy soul 

And let the poison flow. 
They may scatter to earth the lamp of clay 

That holds a light divine, 
But they cannot quench the fire of thought 

By any such deadly wine: 






Miscellaneous Dream Experiences. 339 

They cannot blot thy spoken words 
- From the memory of man. 
By all the poison ever was brewed 

Since time its course began. 
To-day abhorred, to-morrow adored, 

So round and round we run, 
And ever the truth comes uppermost, 

And ever is justice done. 



Plod in thy cave, gray Anchorite; 

Be wiser than thy peers; 
Augment the range of human power. 

And trust to coming years. 
They may call thee wizard, and monk accursed, 

And load thee with dispraise; 
Thou wert born five hundred years to soon 

For the comfort of thy days. 
But not to soon for human kind: 

Time hath reward in store; 
And the demons of our sires become 

The saints that we adore. 
The blind can see, the slave is lord; 

So round and round we run; 
And ever the wrong is proved to be wrong, 

And ever is justice done. 

Keep, Galileo, to thy thought, 

And nerve thy soul to bear. 
They may gloat o'er the senseless words they write; 

From the pangs of thy dispair; 
They may veil their eyes, but they cannot hide 

The sun's meridian glow; 
The heel of a priest may tread thee down, 

And a tyrant work thee woe; 



340 Dreamer's Teacher and Oneirocrztica* 



But never a truth has been destroyed; 

They may curse it and call it crime; 
Pervert and betray, or slander and slay 

Its teachers for a time, 
But the sunshine aye shall light the sky, 

As round and round we run; 
And the truth shall ever come uppermost, 

And justice shall be done. 

And live there now such men as these— 
With thoughts like the great of old ? 

Many have died in their misery, 
And left their thought untold ; 

And many live, and are ranked as mad, 
And placed in the cold world's ban, 

For sending their bright, far-seeing souls- 
Three centuries in the van. 

They toil in penury and grief, 
Unknown, if not maligned ; 

Forlorn, forlorn, bearing the scorn 
Of the meanest of mankind. 

But yet the world goes round and round, 
And the genial seasons run, 

And ever the truth comes uppermost, 
And ever justice is done. 



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